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 Friday, during which Member Secretary Neiko Akami, NJS, urged aspiring lawyers to become defenders of justice while highlighting the growing social impact of substance abuse and crime in Nagaland.
Delivering the appraisal and keynote address, Akami described lawyers as custodians of justice and called upon the interns to uphold the rule of law with integrity, compassion and a strong sense of professional ethics.
He said the internship programme was conceived to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical legal practice by exposing law students to the realities of the justice delivery system.
Beyond academic knowledge, he said, the programme seeks to instil professional ethics, strengthen legal reasoning and inspire future lawyers to use the law as an instrument for protecting the rights of the vulnerable and ensuring access to justice.
Highlighting the growing social consequences of alcoholism and drug abuse, Akami said the judiciary regularly witnesses the devastating impact of substance abuse on families and society.
While Nagaland may not record the volume of crime reported in larger states, he observed that many incidents remain unreported or are resolved through customary institutions without entering the formal judicial system.
Citing official figures, he said 766 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in Nagaland between 2023 and June 2026. During the period, 958 men and 246 women were arrested, reflecting the widespread reach of narcotics-related offences.
He also revealed that, as of June 2026, 4,627 cases were pending before 11 judicial district courts in the State, while 639 cases had been disposed of during the current year. At the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, 804 cases remained pending, while 106 cases had been disposed of.
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Drawing attention to the consequences of addiction, Akami cited several criminal cases handled by the judiciary. In one case, an alcoholic and drug-dependent father was convicted of murdering his three children, aged 12, 10 and 8, and has remained in prison for more than 17 years. In another, a drug-addicted son allegedly murdered his mother after she refused his repeated demands for money and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
He also referred to a cross-border heroin trafficking case in which the accused was arrested by narcotics authorities and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment along with a fine of about ₹1 lakh.
Speaking on crimes against children, Akami cited a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, where an adult lured a minor girl with sweets before committing penetrative sexual assault. The accused was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Recalling the 2012 Nirbhaya case, he said it marked a watershed moment in India’s criminal justice system, leading to major legal reforms relating to sexual offences and strengthening the protection of women.
Urging the interns to carry forward the lessons learned during the programme, Akami encouraged them to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism while ensuring that justice remains accessible, particularly to the poor, marginalised and vulnerable sections of society.
A total of 44 law students underwent training during the internship programme held throughout July.
As part of the programme, the interns visited and interacted with various institutions, including the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, district courts, police stations, orphanages, the Central Jail, district jail and other institutions. They also participated in legal awareness programmes organised by the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs).
The programme was chaired by Nulhuvolu Rhakho, Panel Lawyer, Kohima DLSA.
