Be legal literate : Dy CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 16 2014 :
Ignorance of the law and disputes on the existing traditional boundaries are the major reasons for the enmities between neighbouring States and villages, said Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.
He was speaking as chief guest at the 25th Foundation Day celebration of High Court Bar Association held at the auditorium of High Court of Manipur today.
Saying that legal awareness is a must for all the citizens of the country, Gaikhangam said that people in the hill areas generally follow customary laws instead of the existing laws of the country.
That is why, valley people have better legal awareness than hill people, Gaikhangam said and added that penalising somebody under customary laws sometimes turn out to be a violation of the existing laws of the land.
Observing that people must be aware of the legal constraints before making any demand from the Government, Gaikhangam said that the demand for Greater Nagaland is an example of the ignorance of the law.
He said that people of Manipur never make such demands as they possess good legal awareness.
It is unfortunate that some people have been constantly spewing venom on the hill and valley people, who have been residing together since time immemorial, he added.
Saying that the Government and the authority concerned have been giving legal awareness to the people, Gaikhangam said that people who do not know the law and legal terms are like 'blind' persons.
He said that Manipur is one of the leading States in the legal field in the North East, though it is a tiny State.
Senior Advocate L Shyamkishore was the president of the function.
Members of the High Bar Association donated blood in a blood donation camp organised as part of the foundation day celebration.