SHILLONG: A two-day regional convention of the North East Legal Fraternity (NELF) was organised on the theme ‘Faith that does justice’ at Pastoral Center, Cleve Colony on Sunday.
It was a gathering of lawyers and law students at the second regional convention organised under the aegis of North East Legal Fraternity in collaboration with Legal Cell for Human Rights, Guwahati and Ialam Lynti Legal Fraternity, Shillong.
Speaking on the inaugural function, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Peter S. Dkhar said, “When people do not get (the justice) they deserve, they tend to change track- they get agitated and stop seeking justice.”
The Deputy Commissioner apprised the gathering that each of them has a responsibility of dispensing justice in a way to uphold the faith people keep in the judicial system of the country.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyer, Romy Chacko said, “The purpose enforcement of the faith and justice is provided in the Constitution of India,” adding that there is no conflict between the state and the church. The state is doing what is expected of it and the church is doing the same.
The convention was organised with objectives to celebrate the success of the fraternity, sharing of some extraordinary personal experiences while enabling the lawyers to share their experience after the formation of legal fraternity.
In a statement released, North East Legal Fraternity said that it is committed to work for the poor, needy, deprived, discriminated and downtrodden in North East India and in the country.
On the other hand, Director of Legal Cell for Human Rights, Fr. Owen Chourappa, advocate, said that the entity of such a legal fraternity will be able to address the legal needs of the poor and the voiceless in the Northeast region- which is the primary objective of the convention
On the concluding day, Member of Parliament Shillong, Vincent Pala said that perception towards lawyers has changed and that the programme is an innovative one which will not only help the Church but to ensure a networking amongst lawyers.
Urging the gathering of lawyers to be honest, he said, “Defending clients has a lot of responsibility,” adding that lawyers should be serious while taking up cases.
