90 pc Manipuris lack legal knowledge: Nobin
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 07 2022:
Around 90 percent of the people in state lack legal knowledge, thereby making conduct of legal awareness programmes useless and hindering in resolving issues, observed High Court of Manipur former justice Kh Nobin.
He made the statement as the chief guest during the foundation day celebration of Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, a lawyers' body, at Bal Vidya Mandir in Palace Compound here on Wednesday.
Kh Nobin, who is also the director of Manipur Judicial Academy, said that the legal profession is a noble job, considering those in the profession are the ones working hard to provide the citizens their legal rights as enshrined under the Constitution.
Citizens also have fundamental duties to perform.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom of justice, liberty and equality.
However, the question is whether the people are enjoying these rights fully or not.
The ex-judge continued that under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987, efforts were made to provide legal awareness to all concerned.
One of the methods included conduct of legal awareness programmes.
Such awareness programmes have been organised in the state from time to time, but there seems to be negligible or no benefit as the people of Manipur have this arrogance of being knowledgeable than anyone else.
As such 90 percent of the people do not have any knowledge of the law of the land.
Remarking that the state is plagued by issues, most of which could not be resolved due to lack of legal knowledge among the masses, Kh Nobin said that this lack of knowledge has further created other problems.
Laws are enacted for the people, and as such, the people should be aware of the same.
Thus, the current way of organising legal awareness programmes should be modified a little and participation of Meira Paibi and Clubs should be encouraged to increase its effectiveness and educate the people about the law, he stressed.
The function was also attended by Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad president I Jugeshwor and ex-District Sessions Judge A Noutuneshwori among others.