Legal Awareness Campaign Held at Campbell Bay to Empower Citizens

Tarun Karthick

Campbell Bay, 04 December 2022

A campaign to ‘Empower Citizens through Legal Awareness and Outreach’ & ‘Haq Humara bhi to hai @75’ was held at Community Hall, Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar Island on 3rd December 2022.

A large number of residents, officials and school students participated in the legal awareness campaign.

Mr. Indranil Ray, Ld.Judicial Magistrate First Class, JMFC Court, Campbell Bay, Mr. Sri Ram Singh, Ld. Advocate and Mr. Babu Subramani, Ld. APP spoke on different provisions under IPC, CrPC, Motor Vehicles Act, POCSO Act, Domestic Violence Act etc.

Earlier the programme started with the official of the Health Department informing the participants about the process to change the name of a child on the birth certificate. Mr. Indranil Ray also gave his input on the process to be followed for changing the name of an individual and the importance of keeping the document safe after the name change has been effected.

Mr. Gaurav Banerjee, SHO, PS Campbell Bay explained to the residents, the penalties and other provisions, if a minor is found driving a motor vehicle. He asked the participants to refrain from providing a Motor Vehicle to a minor. He further spoke on the consequences of drunk driving and asked the residents to refrain from driving a Motor Vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Banerjee also spoke on different provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and asked minors under 18 to come forward and report any kind of Sexual Abuse, Bad Touch etc. to the police, their parents & family members or anyone they trust. He explained to the children that the policemen and police women are their friends and that everyone in the police will help and support them. He said, under POCSO Act, 2012 any child irrespective of their gender can report abuse, he clarified that POCSO Act, 2012 does not discriminate between a boy and a girl.

Mr. Brij Mohan Meena, SDPO, Campbell Bay spoke on substance abuse by School Children and asked the students to refrain from using any kind of addictive substance. He also spoke on the prevalent practice of illegal trade of liquor and asked the participants to refrain from trading liquor illegally. 

Mr. Babu Subramani, Ld. APP spoke on the provisions of ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005’ and asked the participants to report any kind of domestic violence they come across in society. 

Mr. Indranil Ray, Ld. Judicial Magistrate First Class elaborated on inputs given by all speakers and explained the various provisions under different laws in easy language to the participants. He also answered all questions put forward by the participants during the interactive session. 

Mr. Sriram Singh, Ld. Advocate spoke on provisions under different laws and explained various relevant provisions to the participants.