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Members of legal services and personnel of the district jail of Wokha share in a group photograph.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): The Wokha District Legal Services Authority (WDLSA) has conducted a legal awareness on basic rights of prisoners on June 16. An update from the legal authority on Wednesday informed.
Speaking on legal services clinic and right to legal aid, Panel Lawyer Meribemo Lotha who is also the in-charge of district jail said that poverty, social and economical backwardness and lack of legal awareness are the reasons for which some underprivileged inmates are unable to defend their case denying them of their basic rights as enshrined in article 39a of the constitution of India.
In order to assist the underprivileged jail inmates in contesting their case, he said that the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority had opened up a legal services clinic at district jail Wokha, deputing a panel lawyer to assist the underprivileged inmates through free legal aid.
Highlighting on rights of prisoners, Panel Lawyer David Ezung, said that under Article 14, equality before law, whether prisoner or innocent citizens are protected by the constitution of India. He said that prisoners also have their rights. He appraised that the prison act 1894 guarantees right to meet friends and consult lawyers, right against solidarity confinement and under Article 21 right to free legal aid and right to speedy trail etc.
Speaking on rights of an arrested person, Panel Lawyer Renbonthung Tsanglao, said that whoever is arrested he / she should be inform of the grounds of arrest, which is a statutorily recognized rights of an arrested person to be informed about the grounds of arrest and some sections of law also imposes a legal duty to communicate the arrested person grounds of his / her arrest without any delay. He informed that no person shall be detained in custody without being informed of the grounds for such arrest.
Tsanglao pointed out that it is the legal obligation on the police to give information and place where the arrested person is being held to any of his friends, relatives as may be nominated by the arrested person for the purpose of giving such information. The right to free legal aid of the arrested indigent person cannot be denied even if the accused failed to apply for it, he said.
Appraising on lok adalat with emphasis on alternative dispute resolution, Retainer Lawyer Gracy Ezung, said that lok adalat is a forum where disputes pending in the court are settled through compromise. She informed that the decision or decree of Lok Adalat is final and binding.
An Interaction and case study on prisoners was also conducted.
