Dimapur, February 2 (MExN): Former Nagaland Chief Minister and also Governor of Goa & Maharashtra SC Jamir today said that any individual, group or institution that breaches the Rule of Law should be “acted against” for the simple reason that the only objective Rule of Law is to deliver justice. Jamir drew analogy to the current situation in Nagaland where threats, crime and intimidation, violence and bloodshed continue to hold ordinary citizens to ransom.
“Why do laws exist? Human beings, when they began to get civilized, realized that laws were necessary if society was to function in an orderly, transparent and just manner. The fundamental objective of law is to deliver justice, whether it is to an individual, an institution or to a nation,” the former chief minister of Nagaland said. His address was to students of law, Thursday morning during the 5th general conference of the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation at AIDA hall, Don Bosco in Dimapur, February 2.
The Congress stalwart posed a query to contextualize his point: “Would it be fair and realistic to expect a neighboring country to invest money in a place where conditions are so unsettled that life and property are not safe, where threats and extortion are the norm?” Jamir reminded that the lack of infrastructure development and lack of employment opportunities are a direct result of the absence of Rule of Law. “Let us face this squarely and not emotionally.”
Jamir, one of India’s senior-most political leaders today, emphasized the very reason law enforcers and security exists as integral to the wellbeing of society and her people. “In a typical democracy, in order to implement and enforce the law and provide services to the public, a government’s bureaucracy, the military and police are vital,” Jamir said.
Yet, he said in lament, for far too long, the Rule of Law has been violated in Nagaland and in the North East Region for various reasons, particularly political reasons. A state like Nagaland continues to be in turmoil, bloodshed and violence and hatred between groups for many decades, he said. The turmoil has snuffed out precious lives, created numerous widows and orphans and has left the Naga society divided and in great suffering.
Without referring to any group in particular, the leader posed these questions: “Are violence, threats and bloodshed not violations of the Rule of law? Is it not a violation of the fundamental Christian law which says ‘Thou shalt not kill’? It is not a violation of fundamental right of Right to Life, which is ordained by God? Can any individual or group of people decide that any person or group who disagrees with their political philosophy has forfeited his or her right to live? Is it not suppression of Right of free Speech and Expression which is a fundamental right to all human beings, a violation of the Rule of Law?
The leader had an urgent word of advice to the gathered students of law that the time has come for the state and her people to act, and act fast. “We need to look closely and quickly at these issues, because time is running out fast and we are being left behind at an alarming rate. The world has moved on and in an era of globalization where boundaries have no sanctity, we appear to be (stuck) in a time warp,” the former governor said. “It is no use bemoaning our fate without doing something actively to help ourselves.”
One of the points of reference which the senior politician used to illustrate the consequences from the absence of Rule of Law was that of socio-economic debilitation and incapacity. “The lack of infrastructure development and lack of employment opportunities are a direct result of the absence of the Rule of Law.”
The two-time chief minister of Nagaland said creating conditions where development and prosperity can grow is up to the youths to decide; whether they desire to enjoy the fruits of prosperity and a ‘happy life’ is up to them. “It is up to us to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails so that society can grow in an orderly and methodical manner where the greatest good of the greatest number is the guiding principal,” Jamir said as a reminder.
