Poor score; only two out of hundred charge-sheeted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 06 2012:
Out of hundred persons arrested by police in connection with criminal cases, only two were charge-sheeted, stated Advocate Y Devdutta at a one-day legal awareness programme held at Langthabal Mantrikhong Awang Leikai community hall today.
Even if police pull up people suspected to have committed criminal activities, no proper trial could be conducted as little investigation was carried and very few charge-sheets submitted.
Under such circumstances, it remains too far fetched to expect justice in many of the criminal cases.
In spite of the Supreme Court's ruling to conduct speedy investigation and trial in all criminal cases, the same ruling seems inapplicable in Manipur, Devdutta said.
The awareness programme was jointly organised by the Young Future Organisation Langthabal and PYMDA Phoubakchao in collaboration with the Manipur State Legal Services Authority.
Devdutta further highlighted the need to have a thorough understanding of what constitutes human rights violation.
Any challenges to human rights which emanate from the Government or its security forces can also be fitted within the concept of human rights violation.
In State like Manipur where there is armed conflict and legislations like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act are enforces, security forces have been trampling upon fundamental rights of the people, Devdutta asserted.
Given the highly insecure situation of Manipur, it is important for the people to stand united against all forms of human rights violation.
People just cannot shirk away this collective responsibility because no one knows when and how they would fall victim of human rights violation.
Imphal East Ombudsman W Joykumar stated that MGNREGS job card holders have the right to demand works from their Pradhans and Gram Panchayat Members.
If the job card holders are not given jobs within 15 days of submitting application, they are entitled to unemployment allowance starting from the 16th day itself.
Exhorting the job-card holders not to compromise their working days, Joykumar lamented that some people have been drawing wages without executing any work in cahoot with their Pradhans and Members.
The workshop was attended District and Session Judge, Manipur East M Manojkumar as chief guest an NIPCO president Sunil Karam as functional president.
Manojkumar said that the Legal Services Authority was set up with the primary objective extending legal education and assistance to people who could not access the same service out of poverty or illiteracy or both.
A similar legal awareness programme was also held at Keirao Bitra Awang Leikai.