Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia on Tuesday inaugurated the District Court complex Wokha and also the first-of-its-kind child friendly court in the state named as “Children Zone”, located in the complex.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Justice Dhulia, who is also the patron-in-chief of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, emphasised that the ultimate goal of a lawyer and judge should be to bring peace to disputes and quoted from the Bible “peacemaker should be called the son of God.”
Justice Dhulia said it was good to have good infrastructure, but reminded everyone that dispensation of justice did not depend on good infrastructure, but on the judge and lawyer as “wheels of the same vehicle”.
He appreciated the people involved in building the district court complex, adding that it was good to have such a big district court.
Referring to the Biblical quote “peacemaker shall be called the children of God”, he said the words were meant for lawyers and judges, adding this would be possible if the lawyer and judge made sincere efforts to bring a peaceful settlement to a problem.
Justice Dhulia urged the lawyers and judges to remember while dispensing cases that a litigant might be from the most marginalised section of the society in need of justice.
In his brief address, Gauhati High Court Kohima bench judge, Justice Songkhupchung Serto expressed joy that Wokha district received the biggest district court building, but stressed that administration of justice was not determined by infrastructure alone, adding that the institution deserved to have proper environment.
He appealed to the citizens of Wokha district to support, defend and preserve the judicial institution, reminding them that as long as the judicial system was strong and the three pillars coexisted, society would progress and peace prevail.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice S Hukato Swu said whenever any infrastructure was set up, it should be treated as an asset and not liability.
As lawyers were preachers and orders passed by the judges governed the society, he cautioned that judges must be very careful while passing orders. He also reminded judicial officers of their responsibilities so that society did not descend into chaos.
In his address, law and justice principal secretary R Ramakrishnan informed the gathering that construction of district court complexes were almost ready at Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Tuensang too and would be inaugurated soon, while work on district court complexes at Mon and Noklak would be taken up in the next financial year.
Urging the district judiciary to take care of the new complex, he also sought support from the district administration and local citizens of the district to ensure a vibrant judiciary.
Wokha Bar Association president also spoke at the programme. CAWD executive engineer Sungtiba Amer presented the technical report.
Deputy Commissioner Wokha, SP Wokha, NSLSA member secretary, host of lawyers, Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho and others attended the inaugural function. Secretary law and justice Nino Iralu proposed the vote of thanks.