Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 9
Retired judge of Supreme Court Justice H K Sema today emphasised the need for Nagaland to have own High Court instead of continuing with the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court.
Addressing the National Legal Services Day organised by Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) at Kohima Bench of GHC, Sema asked if other states in the North East can have their own High Court, why not Nagaland which is the senior most state after Assam.
He said legal services are new to tribal areas, and so most of the people are unaware of their own legal rights. He opined that having a High Court of its own would help in spreading legal awareness amongst the masses and also the utilization of the legal services will improve to a great extent in the State.
“Article 214 of the Constitution allows every state to have its own High Court, and Nagaland being one of the senior most states, created through an Act of the Parliament, needs to have a High Court of its own,” he said.
He was of the view that having our own High Court would solve to a great extent the unemployment problem while it would also help the district and session courts function better.
Maintaining that judiciary and legal rights are new thing for the tribal society, he said the general people are unaware about the legal proceedings, and therefore they are unable to assert their legal rights. Ignorance of law is no excuse, he said adding that Legal Services Authority is very important to create such awareness in a marginalised society like ours.
Exhorting the legal luminaries of the State, he said the Legal Services Authority is for those who are unaware of their legal rights.
He called upon the legal fraternity to take the legal services to the remote areas and also create awareness about women’s rights as the cases of domestic violence and divorce have been increasing with civilisation.
He also called upon the lawyers to avoid missing the court and giving wrong advises to the clients but to work hard to protect their profession and make it the most noble and dignified profession.
Further, the retired judge encouraged lawyers to help the needy by providing free services stating that the rich will pay you handsomely but the poor clients will pray for you and prayer is much better than money.
He also called upon the members BAR and senior lawyers to constitute a committee to check the progress of ongoing construction of new High Court complex at Meriema.
Kohima Public Prosecutor Imtiakum, in his short speech, called upon the gathering to ponder upon the creation of a separate prosecution directorate while also discussing the concern for separation judiciary and executive in the State.
Deputy Commission Kohima W. Honje Konyak delivered the welcome address while District & Session Judge and chairman of KDLSA YM Imchen gave the introductory remarks.
Chief Judicial Magistrate and secretary of KDLSA Mezivolu T. Therieh chaired the programme while Panel Lawyer Zekuseto entertained the gathering with a special song.
