Dimapur, July 16 (EMN): The Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) conducted on July 15 “legal literacy classes” at Sazolie College in Jotsoma, Kohima. During the event, the KDLSA reopened a legal services clinic for the college too, updates stated.
During the programme, Chief Judicial Magistrate Phuleto Yeptho gave the introductory speech. He spoke to the gathering about the inception of the national legal services authority and how it was constituted.
Yeptho, also secretary of the KDLSA, mentioned the main objectives of the legal service authority, functions and role of panel lawyers and paralegal volunteers. He was stated to have urged the students to render goodwill services to the public and the downtrodden by participating as para legal volunteers.
Further, Yeptho explained important NALSA schemes such as compensation schemes for victims of trafficking; workers in the unorganized sectors; and children, drug abuse, disaster, senior citizens among others, the updates stated. The official also emphasized on the importance, benefits and functions of the Lok Adalat which is an alternative form of dispute redress, the press release stated.
A panel lawyer, Keduvi Zhotso, gave a presentation on consumer rights. He was stated to have talked about basic protective consumer rights such as the Right to Safety, Right to Information, Right to Choose, Right to Redress, Right to Consumer Education and Right to Healthy Environment.
“With this rights entitlement, he explained how an individual person or volunteered registered organisation can claim his/her rights by filing a complaint through an application letter written to the district forum,” the updates explained.
‘Cases where the value of goods or services exceeds INR 20 lakh can be filed in the district forum, while INR 20 lakh to INR one crore is filed in the state commissioner if the consumer finds out that the product purchased is defective or charged or hazardous,’ he told the gathering.
The panel lawyer added that if an individual doesn’t feel satisfied, he can go for an appeal in the court or Supreme Court, Zhotso said.
Nagali Shohe, a panel lawyer of the KDLSA, spoke on the topic of fundamental duties. She said that among the ‘existent 11 fundamental rights, the last one and 11th’ was inducted as an amendment. She urged the gathering to perform one’s duties and to abide by them, the updates added.