CJ for small-scale court activities amid extended closure

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

The chief justice, however, decided to keep courts functioning to a minimal extent in order to hear and dispose of very urgent cases during the shutdown.

The Supreme Court administration today 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 distancing must be strictly maintained during the court proceedings and the judges concerned will issue necessary directives and instruments in this regard.               

In one 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 the urgent cases during the closure.

Justice Md Nuruzzaman will preside over the bench of the Appellate Division while Justice Obaidul Hassan will conduct the 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 the urgent matters including bail petitions.

One lawyer can participate in the hearing of a single case maintaining social distancing, 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.