The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority organised a programme on Constitution Day at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on 26th November 2024.
In his speech, Judge, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Justice Partivjyoti Saikia said that every citizen should strive for excellence in one's own field as enshrined in the Constitution. Speaking to a section of leaders from different tribal associations in Kohima, he said although people are entitled several rights, dispensing fundamental duties by every individual is also fundamentally paramount.
The judge said under Article 51 (A), Sub Clause J, it states that citizens should strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives and collective activities. The goal is to help the nation achieve higher levels of success and endeavor.
Stressing on the need to know one's rights and as citizens of India, he said we have rights, we should claim those rights also. "In many place, we have seen that some people are not getting their rights. That is the purpose why the courts are sitting. We are duty bound to extend the fundamental rights to every citizen of India," the Judge pointed out while noting on the role of Judiciary.
Siakia called the people to be aware of our fundamental duties and opined that awareness programmes should start at school level where the youngsters are mostly present and make every section known about their fundamental duties. As part of the Constitution Day programme, Siakia led the attendance in reading out the Preamble of the Constitution.
Delivering the keynote address Member Secretary, NSLSA, Neiko Akami, NJS spoke about how Legal Services provide different kind of legal help to people who are especially vulnerable in the society. Citing an example, he said for instance some under trial prisoners who are lodged in Jails for crimes committed by them are not in a position to afford a lawyer to represent their case as they are not ready financially or have good support system.
In this regard, the Legal Services provides a lawyer for free to represent them. "Guilty or not guilty, we reach out to every vulnerable in the context of legal arena or persons unable to afford to be represented by a lawyer." Akami noted adding that the Legal Services are equipped with Panel Lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers who are trained to assist people in need of Legal Aid which extends from a magistrate court even up to appeal High Court or even to the extent of Supreme Court.
In the form of drafting affidavits, submission of representation to competent authority, or discharging paperwork that only lawyers can undertake, the member secretary said legal Authority extends its hand.
He also spoke about the importance of National Lok Adalat which is held on a quarterly basis for the benefit of the people. In the context of Nagaland, Akami said that 3 main natures of cases were bank loans, MACT cases or petty issues. Such cases, if tried in a normal court, would take minimum few years are however settled in this forum in a day's time, he said.
DIGP (CID), Police Headquarter, Nagaland, Dr. K.P.A Ilyas, IPS spoke on the NDPS Act vis-a-vis conviction rate and strategy to control drug menace in the context of Nagaland.
The programme was chaired by NSLSA Retainer Lawyer, Apila Sangtam and was attended by leaders of various tribal and civil society groups.
(DIPR)
