Village court bill placed at JS

The Village Court (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was placed in parliament Thursday amid protest by opposition lawmakers.

Piloted by LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, the proposed bill aims to simplify judicial proceedings and ensure smooth and fair operations of village courts, a statement tagged with the bill said.

Jahangir Kabir Nanak, state minister for LGRD, placed the bill in the House in absence of Ashraful.

Later, for scrutinising, the bill was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on LGRD ministry for three weeks.

BNP lawmaker ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan opposed the proposed bill saying that it would be harmful for villagers.

“This will increase scope for corruption and bribery,” the lawmaker said.

The opposition MP demanded that the bill be sent to selection committee for further discussion as well as at local government levels.

In reply, Nanak said the proposed bill aims to lessen backlog of lawsuits.

The bill proposed to dispose off a revision application against a village court verdict within 30 days of obtainment.

According to the proposed legislature, there will be no review or appeal once any issue is settled down through compromise.

However, the aggrieved side will be able to go to suitable court if the village court fails to settle down any case within the stipulated time and without any valid reason, and if the village court splits.

According to the proposed bill, Tk 2,000 will be fined if anyone files a case without any valid reasons.