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Rovilato Mor, Mezivolu T Therieh and others seen here during the seminar and legal aid clinic at Sazolie College in Jotsoma near Kohima town on April 13.[/caption]
Principal Correspondent
Kohima, April 13
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ttaining goals within a democratic society would be a challenge unless interpreted through legislations; one of the reasons is that laws and regulations were framed to ensure fair-play and promotion of the society’s interest, an administrator of Kohima t district said during a seminar on legal services on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner of Kohima district, Rovilato Mor said during the program that laws and rules were framed to ensure equality and to safeguard the larger interest of individuals and the society.Addressing a seminar on legal aid on Monday, he said that unless potential, talent, and ‘objectives’ were ‘properly channelized’ through existing laws, attaining goals would be difficult.
The seminar on legal aid was organized by the Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) in collaboration with Sazolie College of Jotsoma village in the college’s premises in the capital town on April 13. The deputy commissioner, also the ex- officio member of the KDLSA, said knowledge is power and pertinent that each member of the society be aware of laws and provisions to move forward.
“Ignorance and indifference towards the legislated laws passed by the Government will create chaos and confusion and pull our society backward,” he said. Mor urged the students to take full advantage of the facilities that the legal aid clinic would be providing. It will equip their legal knowledge and assist them in solving their legal problems, he said.
Also, Principal of Sazolie College, Kangzangding Thou, spoke during the event. He expressed gratitude to the KDLSA for setting up the legal services cell in the college. He said not many were aware of ‘legal issues’ nor their legal rights. He was optimistic that the legal aid clinic would turn out to be a boon, especially to students planning a career in law.
Panel Lawyer of the KDLSA, Akumla Longchari, spoke on the topic ‘The Legal Services Authority’ and gave a brief highlight of its activities and functioning. She said that the access to justice was ‘just right at the door step now’ and urged the students, citizens, and ‘people around the college and neighboring places’ to avail the legal services for free.
Student representative Theyievinuo Whiso, on behalf of the college’s students’ body, spoke on the importance of having a facility of legal services in the college. She expressed the hope that the clinic would offer an opportunity to students to fine-tune their knowledge about the law.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mezivolu T Therieh spoke on the topic ‘Social Media & its Legal Challenges.’ The official said that lives have changed with the coming of the social media. It is creating a new kind of space and as it creating history; there are so many challenges facing us, Therieh said.
IT and the internet have led to innovations and economic growth but have again created new avenues for malicious actors to perpetrate crimes. She said that cyber crime is rampant that everyday millions of people are being affected and victimized.
The official urged students to use social media more responsibly to avoid being a victim and a prey in the hands of the perpetrators. Social media itself is not a crime but misuse of it is, she said. ‘We need to be more watchful to avoid being cheated,’ she said. She advised the students not to take undue advantage of the social media but to use it responsibly, legally, and transparently.
Ex- officio member of the KDLSA Kezhokhoto Savi spoke on the topic ‘the Importance of legal rights and duties.’ “We, as responsible citizens ought to know our legal rights,” he said. ‘When we know our rights, we can approach the concern authorities and get our rights redressed. We can react immediately if we know that our rights have been violated.” He also spoke on the importance of the Right to Information Act and how it should be used effectively to stop corruption.
Another subject he emphasized on was the issue of consumer rights. He highlighted the various issues affecting consumers. He urged the gathering to be vigilant consumers and raise their voice on consumer issues that affect them.
He also spoke on Human Rights. An instance, of citizen’s failure to recognize such rights, that he cited was the March 5 lynching in Dimapur.