Women are not weak, says CJM Memcha
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 09 2012: Chief Judicial Magistrate of Senapati district R K Memcha has observed that providing special provisions in the Constitution of India for protection of women in the society does not imply that women are weak.

Speaking at the Legal Service Day observance held under the aegis of Manipur State Legal Authority at Uripok's Cheirap court complex on Friday, Memcha, who attended the function as one of the resource persons, said that rape, molestation, trafficking, eve teasing and kidnapping of girls are illegal and punishable under various sections and provisions of the Indian Constitution.

So, considering the vulnerability of women in the society, legal bodies sanctioned special laws to protect the women's rights.

But it does not mean that women are weaker than men.

Urging the female victims to be bold and speak out against exploitation of their rights, Memcha explained that under various special laws provided by the Constitution of the country, women victims have the rights to give their statement at home or in front of a police officer.

Another resource person, Dr N Pramod, Asst.

Prof in LMS Law College, who spoke on 'Rights of senior citizens', pointed out that the problem of ageing is a biological change and an universal phenomenon.

However, in the present social system, senior citizens are simply being neglected by their children.

Moreover, India has done nothing remarkable for the betterment of the senior citizen despite claiming itself to be a welfare state, he added.

Chief Guest of the function and former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court R K Manisana Singh said that human rights is dignity and it is important to respect the said dignity if the people of the society seek for harmony and development.

Gauhati High Court's Judge and Executive Chairperson, Manipur State Legal Service Authority, T Nandakumar, who presided over the function, noted that due to the lack of funds from the state and central government, courts and advocates in Manipur are facing difficulties in rendering legal services to the public.

Stating that judiciary could not function without funds, he pointed out that the state government has sanctioned only a sum of Rs.84 lakh this year.

But this amount is not even sufficient for providing salary of casual employees.

Guest of Honour of the function and Advocate General, Manipur, Th Ibohal said that under section 14 of Indian constitution, right to equality has been ensured as a fundamental right to all its citizens but poor and weaker section of the society is unable to make use of it to get their legal rights.

So, in order to redress their grievances, legal service authority has come into existence.

A Doren, member of Para Legal Volunteer said that under the State Legal Service Authority, 4 (four) legal aid clinics have been set up in the state presently.

During April 16 to November 8, as many as 207 cases have been filed at Cheirap legal aid clinic and among the petitioners, most of them are women victims.

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