Renbonthung Tsanglao, panel lawyer Wokha District Legal Services Authority (WDLSA), on June 16 said that whoever was arrested should be informed of the grounds on which they were being arrested, which is a statutory recognized right of an arrested person. He explained that no person can be detained in custody without being informed of the grounds of their arrest.
A press release by Nagaland State Legal Services Authority Kohima, public relation assistant stated that Renbonthung was speaking during a WDLSA legal awareness drive on the basic rights of prisoners. Renbonthung also pointed out that it was the legal obligation of the police to reveal where the arrested person was being held to any of his friends, relatives, that the prisoner may nominate for the purpose of receiving such information.
Also speaking during the drive, Meribemo Lotha, panel lawyer WDLSA and in-charge of district jail said that poverty, social and economical backwardness and lack of legal awareness were the reasons for which some underprivileged inmates were unable to defend their cases. This denies them of their basic rights as enshrined in Article 39a of the constitution of India, he added.
He said that to assist the underprivileged jail inmates in contesting their case the NSLSA had opened a legal services clinic at district jail Wokha, deputing a panel lawyer to assist the underprivileged inmates through free legal aid.
Highlighting the rights of prisoners, David Ezung, panel lawyer WDLSA said that under Article 14, equality before law, whether prisoner or innocent citizens were protected by the constitution of India. He stated that the Prison Act 1894 guarantees the right to meet friends and consult lawyers, the right against solidarity confinement and under Article 21, the right to free legal aid and right to a speedy trail etc.
Speaking about Lok Adalats, with emphasis on alternative dispute resolution, Gracy Ezung, retainer lawyer WDLSA said that Lok Adalat was a forum where disputes pending in the court could be settled through compromise.
Meribemo Lotha also chaired the program and delivered the vote of thanks, while welcome address was pronounced by Mhademo Kithan, assistant jailor, district jail Wokha.