IMPHAL, March 3: A one day legal training for meira paibi leaders concluded today at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound.
The programme was attended by District Session Judge, Imphal East M Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East, W Tonen Meitei and Human Rights Initiative (HRI) chairman Dr Rk Ranjan Singh as chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively.
The training program was organized by Manipur State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with Human Rights Initiative, Manipur.
A Guneshwar Sharma, member secretary MSLSA elaborating on basic procedure of law courts said that in effective court cases, there must be enough evidence against the criminal.
He acknowledged that some sensitive cases like rape case are taken up in the judge’s room to protect the victim’s identity.
He said that even a sex worker has the right to file a case of rape while adding that punishment to a criminal can only be given by the court. He continued that civil cases of divorce are sometimes handled by any civil society organization which are totally wrong.
He said civil cases are mostly time consuming and it is always better if such cases are resolved before going to the court. He also said that the decisions taken up by the Meira paibis for compromising cases related to domestic violence can become a court order if the case is brought up to a Lok Adalat.
Dr N Pramod Singh, Lecturer LMS Law College said that bail is a right but unfortunately, many criminals are bailed out due to the failure of the submission of charge sheet within the given period of time.
He stated that the number of under trail number exceeds convicts due to the failure to charge sheet. He said in India out 100, 60 suspected are caught wrongly by the police personnel and added that every police stations are bound to have a special unit for juveniles.
Ch Momo, Lecturer LMS Law College while presenting on consumers & property rights said that buying and purchase of property beyond the value of Rs 100 must be registered.
He said that consumers have many rights which are protected by the consumer court adding, “It is very unfortunate that consumer courts are all lying non functional in Manipur.”
W Joykumar, Executive director HRI stated that Mizoram had amended a new police act which is the first such instance in the North Eastern states of India.
He said that in Manipur, there is still the old police Act which need to be changed.
M Manoj Kumar Singh, District Session Judge, Imphal East said that law exists to bring peace and harmony in the society.
He said that it is legally wrong that for the name of rape victims to be published in the media and added saying many cases are not rightfully justified due to lack of prosecution witness.