Regular judicial functions closed until April 21
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has decided to keep the normal judicial functions of courts closed in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from today (April 14) to April 21 in line with the restrictions imposed the by the government.
The chief justice, however, decided to virtually operate the judicial proceedings of the courts including the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court to a limited scale through using information technology for disposing of "very urgent" cases during this period.
The SC administration issued three separate notifications yesterday to this effect.
The notifications said the government has imposed restrictions running all government, semi-government, autonomous, private and financial offices and on normal activities and movements since 6am on April 14 till midnight of April 21 through issuing a gazette notification on April 12.
In this situation, a decision has been taken to virtually operate the judicial proceedings of the courts to a limited scale through using information technology in order to protect the people's constitutional rights, keeping the courts' normal proceedings closed, according to the notifications.
The notifications upheld the earlier decisions saying that Court No-1 of the Appellate Division (a full bench of the Appellate Division headed by the chief justice) will run judicial functions from 9:30am to 12pm on every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and its chamber judge will deal with the cases from 11am on every Monday and Wednesday.
Four High Court benches-- three division benches (two-judge) and a single-member (one judge) --- out of total 52 will perform judicial functions though using information technology to deal with urgent writ, civil, criminal and company and admiralty-related petitions.
Besides, a magistrate will deal with urgent cases under district and sessions judge, metropolitan sessions judge, women and children repression prevention tribunal, children court, chief judicial magistrate and chief metropolitan magistrate court in every district strictly following health safety guidelines during this period, according to the notifications.
On April 12, the SC administration issued another notification directing jail authorities not to produce under-trial prisoners before the lower courts or tribunals concerned during case proceedings -- including hearing of their bail petitions -- till further order, as a precaution to coronavirus outbreak.
Magistrates concerned can hold hearings on remand-related petitions through video conference in association with jail authorities, it said.
Comments