Kohima: Forty-four law students finished their summer internship with the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority on July 31. The program ended at the DC Conference Hall in Kohima. Member Secretary Neiko Akami, NJS, challenged the group to pursue their careers with grit and ethics. He called them "defenders of justice" during his keynote address.
Akami wants these students to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real courtroom work. They spent July visiting police stations, jails, and the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The interns also assisted with legal awareness drives across various districts.
Alcohol and drugs plague Naga society. Akami linked substance abuse to a rise in violent crime. Authorities registered 766 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act from 2023 to June 2026. This led to the arrests of 958 men and 246 women. The Member Secretary detailed one horrific case where a drug-dependent father murdered his three children. Another involved a son killing his mother over money. A heroin trafficker recently received a 10-year prison sentence and a 1 lakh rupee fine.
The courts face a heavy load. Records show 4,627 cases pending across 11 district courts as of June 2026, with only 639 disposed. The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, reported 804 pending cases and 106 disposed. Akami also noted a recent 20-year sentence handed down under the POCSO Act for the sexual assault of a minor. He credited the 2012 Nirbhaya case for driving necessary legal reforms to better protect women in India. Panel Lawyer Nulhuvolu Rhakho chaired the final event.
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