Legal awareness
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07 2022:
Retired Judge of the High Court of Manipur Kh Nobin has said that getting rid of the common issues besieging the State will be difficult unless the majority of the people comprehend the basic knowledge of laws.
Addressing the 30th foundation day of Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad at Bal Vidya Mandir in Palace Compound as chief guest today, Kh Nobin continued that the citizens of the country must understand the basic provisions of Indian Constitution and the legal system as issues have to be solved legally first.
The programme was organised by Adhivakta Parishad, Manipur.
He also stated that there is no shortage of issues in Manipur too but tackling them is difficult due to lack of legal awareness among the people.
Contending that no individual and Government can indulge in activities which defy the rule of law or provisions of the Constitution, Nobin maintained that about 90 per cent of people in Manipur ,unfortunately, are unacquainted with the Indian legal system.
Nobin further stated that the majority of the people might not be familiar with the clauses of the controversial AFSPA and MLLR Act.
"How can we express our view or opinion if we are not acquainted with the Acts," he asked.
Saying that one doesn't make an owner of a piece of land simply by possessing a Jamabandi as the latter is only a proof of giving tax to the Government, he added that more documents are required to prove the ownership of any given land.
"For this reason, many people who possessed Jamabandi were evicted at North AOC about four years back," he reasoned.
Nobin further stated that rights of Indian citizens are violated every minute as simpler things such as selling of expired items or deduction of money by telecom service providers without giving any valid reason are unlawful.
The retired Judge urged the people in the legal profession to impart legal knowledge to people so as to protect their rights.
Saying that the Legal Services Authorities Act was passed in 1987 to provide free and legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity, Nobin added that the State has also been organising legal awareness camps to make people familiar with the legal system of India.
Adhivakta Parishad, Manipur president I Jugeshwar also attended the programme.