Arbitrary use of power by cops: SC to hear review petition on Oct 27

The Supreme Court yesterday adjourned, till October 27, the hearing on a review petition filed by the government, challenging its judgement in 2016 that upheld a High Court verdict against arbitrary exercise of power by law enforcers in 2003.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the adjournment order, following a prayer moved by Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, seeking time to prepare for placing arguments.

The HC delivered its verdict on April 7, 2003, responding to a petition filed by a group of rights organisations, including Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, and individuals, after the death of university student Shamim Reza Rubel in police custody on July 23, 1998.

In the judgement, the HC asked the government to amend some provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which gave police disproportionate powers.

The HC also issued a 15-point directive and asked the government to comply with it immediately to stop police from making arbitrary arrests on suspicion and torturing arrestees on remand.

But the then BNP-led government had opted to file an appeal against the verdict, and the Awami League-led government followed suit.

On May 24, 2016, the Appellate Division dismissed the appeal and upheld the HC verdict.

The apex court released the full text of its verdict on the appeal on November 10, 2016, in which it issued a 19-point guideline for police, magistrates and judges to stop these practices. The government filed a petition with the SC in 2017, seeking review of its judgement.

Lawyers ZI Khan Panna and Md Shahinuzzaman Shahin appeared for BLAST during the hearing yesterday.