Virtual courts to run till July 14; judges asked not to leave work areas

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain extended his decision to run court functions across the country on a limited scale virtually till July 14 amidst the ongoing Covid-enforced lockdown.

The judges and officials of the subordinate courts have been ordered to not leave their workstations during this period.

Supreme Court's Registrar General Md Ali Akbar issued three separate notifications yesterday, extending the June 30 notifications till July 14.

According to the notifications, a full bench of the SC Appellate Division will hold hearings on criminal appeals and jail appeals of death-row convicts on July 12, 13, and 14, while its chamber court will deal with important applications every working day.

Besides, three separate benches of the High Court Division will hold hearing writ and civil petitions, criminal petitions, and company and admiralty related petitions every working day till 14.

SC judges, lawyers, and officials will discharge their duties from their homes virtually.

Besides, one or multiple magistrates under each chief judicial magistrate and chief metropolitan magistrate across the country will conduct judicial functions virtually in line with their constitutional obligations.

Children involved in legal proceedings can be physically brought before the magistrate concerned during this period, in line with constitutional obligations, according to the notifications.