Registrar, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Ajongba Imchen on Friday called upon the legal fraternity of Nagaland to enable and empower people to know their rights, and to access their rights.
A press release by the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) stated that Imchen was addressing the one-day state level induction training programme for Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) organised by NSLSA in Kohima.
Lamenting the widespread corruption in Nagaland, Imchen said everyone talks about corruption but nobody does anything about it. He said Naga society today needs people who cannot be “purchased by money” but added that the chances were “very rare”.
Citing example of construction of District Jail in Nagaland which took 11 years, Imchen said in the year 2021, PIL was initiated by the Legal Services authority. However, he said it came with hurdles as no local was ready was ready to come forward and file the PIL.
After a court order, he said the district jail was inaugurated within four weeks but during the inaugural programme nobody pole about the delay and only praised and appreciated one another. Imchen then said Naga people should be ashamed of the way they are living a “superficial life”.
On Right to Information (RTI), he said people were “actively” involved in filing RTI but results were hardly seen. He then said, “RTI activities appears to be selling out”.
Addressing the PLVs, Imchen said although not all PLVs have a law degree, he asserted that it was imperative for them to know the basic procedures, act and articles of the Indian Constitution to empower marginalized of their rights and entitlements.
Without having basic knowledge of law, he said it was not possible for PLV to represent the needs of the marginalized in their respective jurisdiction in the right way.
He said that volunteering was not a charity work but a fundamental duty of the PLVs for the benefit and protection of the rights of the people in their respective area.
Reminding the legal fraternity of their duties, Imchen said, “Our job is not to give rice or sugar to others but enable and empower people to know their rights to access their rights.”
He then said that it has become the responsibility of the legal fraternity to build the nation and at the same time bring change in Nagaland.
Earlier, in a welcome address, NSLSA member secretary Victo Sema, spoke on the need to understand the system of the legal services system. He said the primary objective was to provide free legal services to the people as enshrined in the Article 39 (A) of the Indian Constitution.
Sema asked the PLVs to go back and work effectively in their districts.
During the first session, retainer lawyer, Kohima District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Sunjib Rana dwelled on concept of PLVs and maintenance of PLVs activity registrar; state panel lawyer, NSLSA Kezhosano Kikhi spoke on Fundamentals of Crime and Law; role, duties and responsibilities of PLVs was presented by panel lawyer, Kohima DLSA, Apila Sangtam.
In the second session, state panel lawyer, Cherry Ovung spoke on victim compensation scheme; national best PLV awardee, NK Kenny and PLVs from Dimapur and Noklak PLV also shared their experiences.
Interactive sessions were also held during the training programme.
The induction training was attended by more than 60 PLVs under 11 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) across the state.