'Awareness on laws vital for all'

Mangalore Bar Association President S P Chengappa on Friday said that life encompasses various laws, covering foetus in the womb to immortals, even after the death of a person.

Addressing the gathering of elected representatives from Taluk, Zilla Panchayats and Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) at the inauguration of a day-long workshop on legal awareness organised by Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat in association with District Legal Services Authority and also MCC, Chengappa mentioned various laws, enacted by different agencies at different levels.

He said awareness on laws is essential for everyone. While the department of health and family welfare ensures security of the womb with Pre-natal Act, the city corporations are entrusted with the task of issuing birth and death certificates.

Similarly, marriage laws assume significance in every religion with Hindu Marriage Act, Christian, Muslim and  other related Acts. In the case of any incompatibility, the couples are granted divorce under the ambit of law. In case of any harassment to married women in the name of dowry, related law is enforced under section 498A of IPC to deal with the guilty, he explained.

Chengappa said, there are no ways to escape from laws as every human being is under the thrall of law in one or the other way; either directly or indirectly.
Principal district and sessions court judge K S Beelagi called Gram Panchayats in the lower rung as a strong foundation of administration.

Gram Panchayats gained signifcance due to the then MLC Nazeer Sab from undivided Mysuru district who was popularly known as ‘Neer (water) Saab’ for ensuring water to irrigation pumpsets making judicious use of power under Panchayat Raj system, he added.

Zilla Panchayat CEO M R Ravi attributed different levels of administration to Wadiyars the erstwhile rulers of Mysuru who set a precedent in this regard with Prajaprathinidhi Sabhe (People’s Representatives’ Assembly).

Elaborating on signifiance of legal awareness among elected representatives, Ravi said, it is only then they would be able to effectively discharge their duties, in tune with expectations of the people.