Registrar Imchen highlights Para Legal Volunteers’ constitutional mandate

KOHIMA — Registrar of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Ajongba Imchen, has said that Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), mandated by Article 39 (A) of the Constitution, play a crucial role in providing free legal aid to the poor and marginalised, empowering them to effectively represent these communities.

Imchen was delivering the keynote address at the state level orientation programme for Para Legal Volunteers, organised by the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), at Japfü Hotel in Kohima on Friday.

On how PLVs are appointed, he pointed out that sections 4 and 6 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987, empower the member secretary to appoint PLVs across all districts.

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The registrar emphasised that Article 39 (A) mandates the state to provide justice and free legal aid to the poor and marginalised through legislation, schemes, or other means, ensuring equal access to justice.

These provisions, he said, aims to guarantee that the opportunity of securing justice is not denied due to economic or other disabilities.

He also maintained that PLVs are indeed volunteers, but their role must operate strictly within a legal framework.

Imchen illustrated that tasks like delivering a bag of rice to disaster victims, while noble, fall outside the constitutional duties of PLVs, which are specifically focused on legal aid.

“It's not about financial or material help... Your duty is to provide legal aid for free,” he said and added that during natural disasters, PLVs can help victims understand their rights and entitlements, such as state-provided compensation or relief under fundamental rights.

Imchen went on to state that PLVs have a fundamental duty to provide legal aid and protect the rights of the marginalised, while the poor have a fundamental right to receive such aid. He also stressed that PLVs should be the go-to resource persons in their jurisdictions.

The registrar further stated that while NGOs may not be mentioned in the Constitution, “your role as PLVs is constitutionally mandated,” making them the most powerful individuals at the grassroots level.

NSLSA Member Secretary Neiko Akami, in his welcome address, stated that the core purpose of PLVs is to provide assistance to the marginalised and underprivileged.

He said the notion of volunteering is to do something good for the people and added that it is for them to come out voluntarily, coordinate and carry forward the needs and aspiration of people and the downtrodden.

The member secretary asked the PLVs to be sincere in their work and to keep in touch with front office and also actively engage themselves in Common Minimum Programme.

During the orientation session, Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Kohima, Kezhosano Kikhi, spoke on the concept of PLVs and their role, duties and responsibilities.

Sunjib Rana, retainer lawyer for Kohima District Legal Services Authority, delivered a presentation on ‘Ethics and professional conduct for PLVs’ and discussed best practices for maintaining PLV activity registers, reports, and records.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Cherry Ovung, panel lawyer, NSLSA. More than 50 PLVs from the District Legal Services Authorities attended the orientation programme.