Kalyan Rai Surana and Y Longkumer with others during legal awareness programme in Kohima on September 10. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 10
Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) in collaboration with Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) and Kohima Law College organised a legal awareness programme at the college on September 10.
Addressing the gathering as the special guest, Justice Kalyan Rai Surana, Judge, Gauhati High Court and executive chairman NSLSA asked the law students to stayed focus and acquainted with the various laws and Acts passed by the Parliament or Legislature. He told the law students to keep updated with new case laws and make a habit of reading judgement.
Justice Surana also stressed on the need to play a positive role in bringing change in the society.
Justice Y Longkumer, Judge, Gauhati High Court said that law is not an easy profession and asked those students pursuing legal education to have dedication and commitment to succeed in this profession. “You need a lot of dedication and endless reading,” she said. “Lawyers play such a great role in the nation’s building,” she added.
Access to ‘Justice for All’
NSLSA Member Secretary Neiko Akami said that Nagaland State Legal Services Authority has been executing National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) schemes across the state.
He said that the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 has inserted Article 39A to the Indian Constitution, which states that the state must provide free legal aid to ensure equal access to justice and prevent economic or other disabilities from denying citizens opportunities for justice.
NSLSA holds the responsibility for protection of the weaker sections and safeguarding the rights of the marginalized in the context of ‘Access to “Justice for All.”
Akami said that NSLSA extends legal services to the victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, extends help to the workers in the Unorganised Sector in collaboration with labour department, extends child friendly legal services and their protection and legal aid to the mentally disabled persons. “Our activities have been also reaching to the village councils for the enforcement of tribal rights, free and compulsory education, prevention of atrocities, right to fair compensation and transparency in land requisition and rehabilitation,” he said.
NSLSA is also reaching out to various societies about drug abuse and its eradication for drug free India.
We are also sensitizing the victims of HIV & AIDS and their rights, Akami said.
NSLSA is also reaching out in times of disasters, bringing attention to the needs of victims who are affected by natural calamities. ‘We are also reaching out to our senior citizens, creating more awareness about their entitlements as senior citizens in the society,’ he said.
Under Saathi scheme, the NSLSA also facilitate children for Aadhaar registration and under ASHA scheme, it creates awareness about the Child Marriage. He said the practice of child marriage must be avoided, otherwise any violation and in case of complaint against such person can be prosecuted U/S POSCO Act.
Our chairman/secretary and the panel lawyers are regularly visiting the jails to ensure that those UTPs in need of legal aid are extended without delay, he said. Akami also informed that the 3rd quarterly National Lok Adalat has been scheduled on September 13 this year.
KLC - a nurturing ground for future judges, advocates
Moasenla, Principal Kohima Law College said that the Collge, since its establishment in 1979, has been a nurturing ground for future judges, advocates, policymakers, and social leaders.
The college has 130 students at present. The students of KLC have achieved Gold Medals consecutively from 2020 to 2023-the first time in the history of Nagaland University’s LLB examinations.
She said that some publication of the college such as “The practicing of Naga customary law,” “Legal history and judicial institutions of the Nagas,” a comprehensive compilation of the Statutory Acts of Nagaland including a booklet of the leading cases of all the semesters have been brought out and included in the Nagaland University syllabus.
Earlier, Sunjib Rana, retainer lawyer, talked on concept and functions of the legal services clinics. The programme was chaired by Nulhuvolu Rhakho, penal lawyer while vote of thanks was proposed by Neikerhelie Nakhro, PLV, KDLSA.
