KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 12: Legal literacy and awareness is a challenging task in a diverse country like India and with legal services out of reach for the weaker section of the society, the Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) opened a Legal Aid Clinic at Kohima College today to provide free legal services to the villagers, college students and prisoners free of cost.
The opening of the legal aid was in accordance with the Article 39 A and Article 21. Speaking on the occasion, the keynote speaker YM Imchen, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kohima, and Chairman of KDLSA emphasised on these two Articles stating that legal aid clinic is a facility established by the District Legal Servicers Authority to provide basic legal services free of cost. He stated that two Para-Legal Volunteers will be available during office hours in order to avail their assistance. KDLSA also acknowledged the contributions of the Principal and authorities of Kohima College for providing the necessary space for the clinic.
Alok Agrawal. Member Secretary of National Legal Services Authority, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, addressed that the name Legal Services Clinic was more apt than Legal Aid Clinic because it was not only for the poor who cannot afford legal fees of a case but also for the women, illiterate, weaker section of the society and people unaware of legal laws and proceedings. He said the National Legal Services Authority has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987.
He also stated that para-legal volunteers of the clinic will serve as a bridge between the public and the legal service authority. He encouraged the college students to reach out to the community by organising programmes on specific subjects and make people aware of their legal rights and work towards making the country better.
Nino Iralu, Member Secretary of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, who also spoke on the occasion, congratulated the college and said that the clinic will be instrumental in spreading legal awareness and that it will contribute to the common man besides students and the faculty of the college by spreading legal awareness.
The inaugural address was delivered by Geetanjali Goel, Director of National Legal Services Authority, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, wherein she cited that because of the lack of basic knowledge of law, a number of cases were lost at the threshold. She suggested that school and colleges curriculum should include the study of the basics of the law so that students who do not opt for further legal studies can be aware of their basic rights.
Basing on the motto of ‘Access to justice for all,” she said the clinics will act as a bridge between the community and the legal service authorities. She also encouraged the college students to take upon the opening of the clinic as a mission to move the community towards legal literacy.
The programme was chaired by Mezivolu T Theriah, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Secretary of KDLSA, followed by welcome song by Vevoto Ringa, BA Eng (Hons) and felicitation of the dignitaries. The welcome speech was delivered by Moanungla Kevichüsa, Associate Professor, HoD, Department of English & Coordinator IQSE, NAAC, Kohima College.
