CJ extends closure of courts till May 5

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has extended the ongoing closure for all courts across the country till May 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak in line with the government's decision to extend the shutdown of offices.

The chief justice, however,  decided to  run court functions  in a small scope in order to hear and dispose of very  urgent cases  during the holiday. The Supreme Court administration yesterday issued two separate circulars to this effect.

The chief justice took the decision following recommendations from the Supreme Court Special Committee for Judicial Reforms, SC sources said.

Supreme Court Registrar General Md Ali Akbar signed the circulars saying that social distance must be strictly maintained during court proceedings and the judges concerned will issue necessary directives and instruments in this regard.

In a circular,  it has been said that  the chief justice constituted a bench each of the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court for hearing and disposing of urgent cases  during the holiday.

Justice Md Nuruzzaman will preside over the bench of the Appellate Division while Justice Obaidul Hassan will conduct 2the bench of the High Court Division.

The judges will decide the timing and other relevant issues for dealing with the urgent cases.

In another circular,  the SC registrar general said the courts of district and sessions judges,  metropolitan sessions judges, chief judicial magistrates, and metropolitan magistrates will function for two days a week during the closure for dealing with urgent matters like bail petitions.

One lawyer can participate in the hearing of a single case keeping social distance strictly, the notification said, adding that no accused prisoners can be brought to the court during this period.

The notification also said the ad-interim orders earlier issued by the courts granting bail, stay, directives for surrender and status quo will remain extended for two weeks after reopening of the courts.