* Meghwal assures financial support for High Court project
* CM stresses on justice, rights, and legal empowerment
In a landmark event for legal outreach in Nagaland, the “State Mega Legal Services Camp” was held on Saturday at the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Convention Centre, Kohima.
The event, described as the largest of its kind in the state, was organized by the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland and the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kohima, under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
The event was graced by a distinguished delegation that included Union Minister of State for Law and Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and three sitting Judges of the Supreme Court of India– Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, alongside senior judges from the Gauhati High Court.
Addressing the valedictory programme, Meghwal assured that the Nagaland High Court complex at Meriema, Kohima, will be taken up as a priority project, with the required funds to be provided by the Central government. The minister emphasized the Centre’s commitment to strengthening the justice delivery system in Nagaland.
He underlined the need to distinguish between political equality, which is constitutionally guaranteed through the principle of “one man, one vote”, and socio-economic justice, which he said remains elusive for many due to persistent disparities. He called for greater legal empowerment and outreach to bridge this gap.
Meghwal’s assurance comes in response to chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s appeal for Rs. 299 crore in additional funding to complete the High Court complex, 99% of whose main building and 90% of judges’ bungalows were already finished.
Welcoming the dignitaries, chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio termed the event “momentous,” noting it was a rare privilege for the state to host such top legal luminaries.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he emphasized the importance of access to justice and praised the judiciary’s role in defending constitutional values and the rights of the marginalized.
Dr. Rio lauded NSLSA and the Department of Law and Justice for organizing the camp, which provided legal aid, access to welfare schemes, and awareness on legal rights, especially for the underprivileged.
Rio reflected on the synergy between Naga customary practices and modern legal principles, citing three notable areas.
Mediation: He noted that dispute resolution through mediation had long been a cornerstone of Naga customary law.
Capital punishment: Historically absent in Naga justice systems, Rio said this reflected a deep-rooted respect for live, a concept now gaining global recognition.
Forgiveness and Reform: Rio said that forgiveness, embedded in Naga customs, mirrors modern efforts to reform over retribution.
Touching on the origins of Nagaland as a state formed under the 16 Point Agreement and the 13th Constitutional Amendment, the chief minister reaffirmed the importance of Article 371(A) in protecting Nagaland’s legal identity and customary laws and highlighted the relevance of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the traditional three-tier justice system operated by Gaon Buras and Dobashis.
Dr. Rio gave an update on the ongoing construction of the Nagaland High Court complex at Meriema, noting that nearly 99% of the main building and 90% of the judges’ bungalows have been completed. He requested Rs.299 crore in additional central funding to complete the project.
Justice B.R. Gavai, Executive Chairman of NALSA, emphasized that justice cannot be served without public awareness of legal rights. He reiterated NALSA’s commitment to reach the remotest corners of the country. He lauded Article 371(A) for preserving Naga identity and customary rights.
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, also Mentor of NSLSA, called for greater cooperation in implementing the Mediation Act, 2023, especially Section 43, which empowers DLSAs to promote community mediation to prevent conflict.
Justice Surya Kant, Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, highlighted the importance of inclusive legal aid. Commending the sincerity of Nagaland’s people, he described NALSA as a people’s movement, not just a statutory body.
Earlier, delivering the welcome speech, Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court and patron-in-chief, Justice Vijay Bishnoi stated that the camp was a first of its kind being organised at the state-level.
He said the camp was to provide free and accessible legal aid and make people aware of their legal rights. Justice Bishnoi also stated that the camp was the outcome of the collective effort of the National Legal Services Authority, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, the District Legal Services Authority and the Government of Nagaland. He added that it is mandated by Article 39(A) of the Constitution which guarantees equal justice and free legal aid to all citizens.