Legal awareness programme held at Zuketsa in Phek focuses on free legal aid, child protection, drug abuse, and consumer rights.
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), in collaboration with the Phek District Legal Authority (DLSA), the Controller of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection, and the Zuketsa Area Public Organisation (ZAPO), organised a legal awareness programme at the ZAPO Hall in Zuketsa, Phek, on Saturday.
Free legal aid, access to justice
Member Secretary of the NSLSA Neiko Akami highlighted that free legal services are vital to ensuring that social and economic disadvantage does not become a barrier to justice in Nagaland.
According to an update, he said legal services authorities provide free legal assistance to eligible persons, including help in understanding legal rights, preparing legal documents and accessing legal remedies.
In Nagaland, front offices are functioning in all 11 districts, manned by panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers, to facilitate access to legal services without any charge.
Akami also highlighted free legal aid for persons lodged in jails, noting that many inmates come from less privileged backgrounds. He said they are assisted through mechanisms including the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) scheme and Under-Trial Review Committee (UTRC) meetings to safeguard their legal and constitutional rights.
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He pointed to Lok Adalats as an effective mechanism for speedy and amicable settlement of disputes, noting that more than 600 cases had been settled during the year.
Akami also stressed the importance of victim compensation and community intervention. Referring to human-wildlife conflict, he said NALSA has a scheme providing legal assistance, relief and compensation to affected persons, while also highlighting compensation available in motor vehicle accident claims.
POCSO, drug abuse concerns
Speaking on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, JMFC-cum-Secretary of Phek DLSA Kilemsungla Jamir stated that sexual offences against children extend beyond rape or penetrative sexual assault to include inappropriate touching, sexual intent, sexual harassment and the use or creation of child sexual abuse material.
She also urged adults to be attentive to a child’s behaviour and other early signs that may indicate abuse, pointing out the importance of listening to and acting on such signals
.
Chief LADC of Phek Vethothi Vero said drug abuse and involvement in drug-related illegal activities remained a serious concern in the district, particularly in the district headquarters. He said society was no longer alien to the presence and use of illicit drugs, claiming that opium use accounted for around 49 per cent.
Vero said more than 1,000 youths in Phek town are found to be involved in drug abuse. He pointed out the need for youths and village leaders to take a strong and proactive role in addressing the problem, while also calling for a more compassionate approach towards persons struggling with addiction.
Referring to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, Vero said the law has prescribed stringent punishment for serious drug offences, with imprisonment in certain cases extending up to 20 years. He also highlighted the availability of de-addiction and rehabilitation services, including Opioid Substitution Therapy, and encouraged persons struggling with addiction to seek professional help, adding that addiction can be treated with appropriate support and rehabilitation.
Legal metrology and consumer rights
The Inspector of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection, Phek, Juwe Pojar, highlighted the importance of complying with legal metrology laws and rules, particularly on accurate weighing, measurement and mandatory declarations in commercial transactions.
She noted that several local products in Nagaland are increasingly being sold without a required packaging licence, which can be obtained from the department, and warned that non-compliance may invite penalties.
Pojar said consumers have the right to ask shopkeepers for verification certificates for weighing and measuring instruments, which are required to be verified periodically, generally once a year. She urged traders to ensure that their instruments carry valid verification certification and reminded consumers of their right not to pay more than the MRP and encouraged them to lodge complaints with the appropriate consumer authorities in case of violations.
Consumers urged to retain proof of purchase
Retainer Lawyer of Phek DLSA, Sekhotso Rokha, speaking on the Consumer Protection Act, said consumers are entitled to a range of rights in relation to goods and services, including the right to safety, information, being heard and seeking redressal.
He observed that consumers often overlook these rights and highlighted the importance of keeping bills, cash memos and product labels as proof of purchase. Citing cases of food poisoning, he said consumers may face difficulty seeking redressal without documentary evidence linking the product to the seller. Rokha also urged consumers to check product labels, expiry dates and other mandatory declarations before making a purchase.
Rokha highlighted that consumer protection also extends to deficiencies in services, including cases of medical negligence, which may be addressed through appropriate legal or consumer redressal mechanisms.
He further advised consumers to be alert to additional or unlawful charges. In cases where Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged, consumers should check whether the seller is registered and ensure that the applicable tax is properly reflected on the bill, rather than simply accepting an additional amount described as "GST".
Around 150 leaders, including representatives from council, women, youth and student groups covering ZAPO, attended the programme.