Cases Under DSA: Govt sets up cyber tribunals in 8 divisions
The government has recently set up a cyber tribunal in each of the all eight divisions of the country to hold trials of cybercrimes-related cases, including those filed under the controversial Digital Security Act.
Cases are filed under this law mainly for spreading rumour, creating confusion, tarnishing image, and defaming, and deteriorating law and order through using online platforms.
Earlier, there was one cyber tribunal in Dhaka for holding trial of cases filed under the Information and Communication Technology Act.
The law ministry issued a gazette notification on April 4 to this effect saying that the cyber tribunals have been formed under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006.
The names of the eight tribunals are Cyber Tribunal, Dhaka; Cyber Tribunal, Chattogram; Cyber Tribunal, Rajshahi; Cyber Tribunal, Khulna; Cyber Tribunal, Barishal; Cyber Tribunal, Sylhet; Cyber Tribunal, Rangpur, and Cyber Tribunal, Mymensingh.
The notification has determined the local jurisdiction of Cyber Tribunal, Dhaka, which are the districts of Dhaka, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Shariatpur, Narayananj, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Madaripur, Faridpur, and Gopalganj.
The cases filed in districts other than the above-mentioned 13 will be transferred from the Cyber Tribunal, Dhaka to other cyber tribunals concerned in 30 days, according to the gazette notification.
Contacted, Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star that his ministry enhanced the number of cyber tribunals to help reduce backlogs of cybercrimes-related cases.
He also said the government is working to make sure that nobody is arrested in the cases filed under the Digital Security Act without prior inquiry.
"We have made much progress to this effect," he said, without elaborating.
Asked whether the government would amend the Digital Security Act or incorporate any rule in it to stop its abuse, Anisul said, "Wait and see what we do."
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir, who challenged two sections of the Digital Security Act through moving a writ petition before the High Court, said the cyber tribunals will hold trials of the cases filed under the Digital Security Act, 2018.
Previously, these offences were included in controversial Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006.
This section has been repealed from the ICT act and included in the DSA, he added.
Law ministry sources said the government has already appointed competent judges for conducting the cyber tribunals in eight divisions.
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