Officials of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority with the 44 law student interns during the culmination programme of the NSLSA Summer Internship Programme 2026 at the DC Conference Hall, Kohima, on July 31.
Kohima, July 31 (MExN): The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) concluded its Summer Internship Programme 2026 with a culmination programme held at the DC Conference Hall, Kohima, on July 31, with Member Secretary Neiko Akami, NJS, urging aspiring lawyers to uphold justice with integrity, compassion and a commitment to the rule of law.
Delivering the appraisal and keynote address, Akami described lawyers as "defenders of justice" and called on the 44 law student interns to become "harbingers of justice" by ensuring that justice remains accessible to all, particularly the poor, marginalised and vulnerable.
He said the internship programme was conceived to bridge the gap between legal education and practical legal practice by exposing students to the realities of the justice delivery system. Beyond academic learning, he said the initiative sought to instil professional ethics, strengthen legal reasoning and inspire future lawyers to use the law as an instrument for protecting rights and ensuring access to justice.
Drawing from judicial experience, Akami said alcoholism and drug abuse continue to have serious consequences in Naga society. While Nagaland may not witness the volume of crime reported in larger states, he noted that many incidents remain unreported or are resolved through customary institutions without entering the formal judicial system.
Highlighting the extent of narcotics-related offences, he informed that 766 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in Nagaland between 2023 and June 2026. During the period, 246 women and 958 men were arrested in connection with these cases.
He also shared data on the state's judicial pendency, stating that records from 11 judicial district courts showed 4,627 cases pending as of June 2026, while 639 cases had been disposed. At the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, 106 disposed of and 804 remained pending.
To underline the social impact of substance abuse, Akami cited several criminal cases, including one in which an alcoholic and drug-dependent father was convicted of killing his three children and another in which a son allegedly addicted to drugs murdered his mother after she refused to give him money. He also referred to a heroin trafficking case in which the accused was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and fined about Rs 1 lakh.
Speaking on crimes against children, he cited a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in which an adult was convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor.
Akami further recalled the 2012 Nirbhaya case, describing it as a watershed moment that led to significant reforms in India's criminal justice system concerning sexual offences and strengthened legal protections for women.
The month-long internship, conducted during July, saw 44 law students undergo practical training. As part of the programme, the interns visited and interacted with institutions including the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, district courts, police stations, orphanage homes, Central Jail, District Jail and other institutions. They also participated in legal awareness programmes organised by District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs).
The culmination programme was chaired by Nulhuvolu Rhakho, Panel Lawyer, Kohima DLSA.
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