Kohima — As the Kohima Bench has commemorated 75th years of Gauhati High Court, Justice Kakheto Sema, on April 5, expressed hope that the ‘long-cherished’ dream of the people of the state to have a separate high court would be fulfilled soon.
“The need to have a separate and independent High Court for Nagaland has been voiced by the Bar and dynamically pursued by members of the legal fraternity for many years now,” he said.
“The Article 214 of the Constitution of India envisages that there should be a High Court for each state. With the celebration of the platinum jubilee, the dream for a separate High Court be fulfilled in the days to come,” he added.
Justice Kakheto stated that the institution of judiciary in Nagaland has grown by leaps and bounds since its statehood in 1963. He informed that the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court was inaugurated for the first time as a Circuit Bench on December 1, 1972. The Kohima Bench was later upgraded to a permanent bench in 1990.
“The Gauhati High Court emerged from the High Court of Assam in 1948 and had administered justice in an area having enormous variations. The laws applicable to different areas may vary, but the entire area is administered by a common High Court,” he said while adding that “HC is a unique one, where a single institution exercises jurisdiction throughout the entire North East region.”
The commissioner and secretary of Law and Justice, Taliremba, said the anniversary is a day to identify weaknesses in the institution and try to find ways to strengthen them. He called upon the gathering to discard old mindset, if required, and collectively contribute for the betterment of the court.
Commemorating the occasion, 75 ballons were released and flower pots were unveiled by the guests of the day, Judge Kakheto Sema and Taliremba.
As part of the celebration, various programmes were being carried out. Those included legal awareness camp, educational trips, and tree plantations. The High Court Legal Service Committee and the High Court Bar Association would organise a tree plantation at the New High Court Complex on April 14 to mark the culmination of the celebration.