Legal Services Day observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 09 2012: Manipur State Legal Services Authority observed Legal Services Day at Cheirap Court complex today.

Speaking as a resource person at the function, Child Welfare Committee, Imphal East Chairperson K Pradipkumar said that children in Manipur are being subjected to violence in different forms.

Quoting a report of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, he said that altogether 895 children were made victims of different forms of violence between September 2011 and September 2012 .

They are victims of rape, murder, trafficking, vandalism and other forms of violence.

In line with international treaties and covenants, the Government of India has enacted a number of laws and policies to ensure child rights like right to survival, right to development, right to protection and right to participation.

In Manipur too, Juvenile Justice, Care and Protection Act 2000 is in force.

The Manipur State Commission for Child Rights was constituted recently.

Despite all these measures, there remain many lapses when it comes to delivery justice to victimised children.

There is a need for close coordination among media, police and judiciary to ensure that justice is done victimised children, Pradipkumar said.

The function was graced by Manipur State Legal Services Authority Executive Chairman Justice T Nandakumar as president and former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court RK Manisana as chief guest.

Advocate General Th Ibohal, Gauhati High Court Judge Justice SR Sen, Gauhati High Court retired Judge Justice H Kaminikumar, Justice Maibam Binoykumar and Justice Mutum Binoykumar were also present at the function as guests of honour.

Giving key-note address of the function which was opened with presentation of opening song by students of Ideal Blind School, Manipur State Legal Services Authority Secretary A Guneshwar said that a large section of the Indian population is not aware of the country's law and they could not take any legal aid when needed even if the Constitution of India guarantees that all men are equal before the law.

It was with the objective of creating legal awareness among this underprivileged section that the Legal Services Authority Act was passed.

By directive of the Supreme Court, the Act came into force from November 9, 1995.Since then, November 9 is observed as Legal Service Day across India, Guneshwar said.

In Manipur too, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority has been providing legal assistance free of cost to weaker and underprivileged sections, women, children, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, victims of human trafficking, disabled persons and victims of natural calamities.

Above that, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority has organised legal awareness programmes at more than 100 places across the State.

LMS Law College Assistant Professor Dr N Pramod and CJM Senapati RK Memcha too spoke at the function as resource persons.

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