DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 20: Kiphire District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) organised two-day legal awareness campaign on November 18 and 19.The first day of programme was conducted at Kiphire Town Hall, attended by district administration, NGOs, Police department, women and youth organisations, village council members, students and representatives from various church bodies from Kiphire town.
At the awareness programme, N.Kano, judicial magistrate first class and secretary of KDLSA, spoke on the purpose of Legal Aid Clinic and legal service functioning and mechanism. He informed that Legal Aid Clinic will be a centre through which legal needs and assistance will be provided to the downtrodden and weaker sections of the citizens of Kiphire district.
Resource person, Akumla Longchari, legal aid counsel & master trainer, spoke on the salient features of cyber Laws and Crimes, key points on child and adolescent labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. Neinguvotuo, legal aid counsel cum master trainer, presented on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012 elaborating various measures for child protection in the state, while panel lawyer, Likhase Sangtam, briefed on the importance of Right to Information and procedure of filing an RTI, concept and significance of Lok Adalat (Peoples Court), Motor vehicle Act.
Likhase spoke on Nagaland Villages and Area Councils Act, 1978, its functioning, duties and features of village council, and Arepla, panel lawyer spoke on the various provisions of Consumer Protection Act and key aspects on rights of consumer.
Later, Legal Aid Clinic was inaugurated at District Jail, Kiphire by N.Kano. Legal awareness & literacy programme was also conducted at the jail premises.
Kano in her address said the newly setup Jail-Legal Service Clinic shall provide and assist the prisoners lodged in the district jail with prompt legal aid and assistance, to which they are entitled by virtue of the section 12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The Jail inmates were apprised with the rights of prisoners and informed about their rights and privileges.
Resource person from Nagaland State Legal Services Authority spoke on free legal aid and assistance, protection against illegal detention in custody, right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest, right to fair and speedy investigation and trial, right to appeal in case of conviction, right to be released on bail.
On the second day, a similar programme was organised and Legal Service Clinic was inaugurated at Seyochung ADC Headquarter by N.Kano. Panel lawyers and legal aid counsellors disseminated awareness on child protection mechanism and various provisions on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, with special emphasis on child friendly care and protection of children in conflict with the law. Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and Protection Scheme, 2015 was also highlighted to create visibility of the scheme to the masses of Kiphire district.
The public were informed on matters related to child protection and care to notify the matter immediately to District Child Protection officer and Child Welfare Committee.
In an interaction session, various generic issues such as identifying jurisdiction and cases falling outside the purview of customary jurisdiction, consumer rights, right to information and right to education were discussed.
