State-level consultation meet for Panel & Retainer Lawyers held

Members of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) after the one-day state-level consultation for Panel Lawyers and Retainer Lawyers held at SIRD Conference Hall, Kohima on October 5. (Photo Courtesy: NSLSA)

Kohima, October5 (MExN): The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) today held a state-level consultation for Panel Lawyers and Retainer Lawyers at the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Conference Hall, Kohima.

Member Secretary, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority Longshithung Ezung, NJS called DLSAs to strive for “Early Access to Justice” with special emphasis on Pre-arrest, arrest and remand stage.

He was delivering the opening address and remarked on the new initiatives and protocols to be carried out in the front of Legal Aid and Services programmes. He stressed that the need of the hour was on the facet to strive for early access to justice for marginalized sections and special emphasis to those detained at pre-arrest stage and, between arrest and production in the Court, are entitled to free legal services by virtue of section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

The Member Secretary however lamented that lack of awareness and proper communication channels has been a hindrance in ensuring legal aid to prisoners. He also substantiated that “a study estimated that 80 percent of those in prison had only primary school education or were illiterate, later adding that lawyers can be the bridge and channel of reaching out to those in need.

He took reference to the key resolutions passed during the conclave of the All India Meet of the State Legal Services Authorities held at Nagpur on August 17 and 18. To carry out and take steps as adopted in the said resolutions, collective efforts, ideas, coordinated action and suggestive inputs from all the panel Lawyers are required.

For effective implementation of early access to justice framework, the MS that it “require coordination between the police authorities and legal services authorities.”

He further stated that Legal Services institutions need to focus on the protocol called “Early Access to Justice at  rearrest, Arrest and Rem and stage” to implement it by providing legal assistance at early stages in criminal cases and putting the protocol into action.

In this regard, he assured SLSAs to workout modalities for effective implementation; while holding capacity building programs for panel lawyers; strive towards spreading effective legal awareness amongst the public about the right to legal assistance; frame fortnightly or monthly duty roasters of advocates and PLVs in such a manner that all the police stations are covered; periodically review the early access to justice framework and shall provide accurate and effective documentation about the impact made by legal assistance to make front offices capable as working as one stop centres for legal aid seekers.

Citing other important aspects of providing legal assistance, he added “to decrease vulnerabilities of suspects and arrestees; assist in avoiding unnecessary arrests; assist arrestees in filing bail applications and furnishing bail bonds.”

He pointed out another crucial resolution passed during the conclave of the 17th All India Meet is to meet the quality Legal Aid through the Front Office.

Discussion and inputs are required from all levels to shape the Front office as One Stop Center for the beneficiaries of Legal Aid seekers. Appointing Front Office Coordinators is also under consideration as resolved during Central Authority Meet–2019 and steps will be taken by NSLSA for recruiting such Front Office Assistant to ease off difficulties in managing and smooth functioning of Front Office.

State Project Coordinator Kezhosano Kikhi, Advocate delivering the welcome and keynote address underlined the objective of the consultation meet and briefed on the various aspects of discussions and working sessions to be deliberated.

State Project Coordinator Cherry Ovung gave presentation on DLSAs Annual activities & execution of Common Plan of Action and also District wise Data was presented showing the performance and appraisal of each DLSA. Presentations were given by all DLSAs on their functioning, activities, achievements and also pointed out the grievances faced by each DLSA. The consultative meet was attended by 30 Panel Lawyers and 4Retainer Lawyers from all the DLSAs in presence of the Members Secretary, NSLSA and project officials of NSLSA and Staffs of NSLSA.