SC appoints 4 jurists for opinion on life term imprisonment

The Supreme Court today appointed four eminent jurists as amicus curie for hearing their expert opinions on whether the life term imprisonment means 22 and a half years or the jail sentence until natural death of a convict.

The four amicus curiae are Advocate AS Hasan Ariff, Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud, Advocate Abdur Reza Khan and Advocate Monsurul Hoque Chowdhury.

The apex court requested them to place their expert opinions over the issue before this court on May 9.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order while hearing a petition filed by one Ataur Mridha alias Ataur.

He submitted the petition seeking a review of the Supreme Court judgment which on February 2, 2014 ruled that life imprisonment means jail sentence until natural death.

In his review petition, the petitioner said as per relevant laws and according to another Supreme Court judgment, a convict has to serve in jail for 22 and a half years if he is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the Supreme Court to settle review petition whether life imprisonment is jail sentence until death or its mean 22 and a half years in jail.