3 benches formed for hearing cases virtually
It also directed the subordinate court concerned to hear cases related to emergency bail through virtual presence using technology during the ongoing holidays
The High Court on Sunday formed three separate benches for hearing urgent cases virtually during the ongoing holidays to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
Justice Obaidul Hassan, Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar will led the benches, said a circular issued by the Supreme Court Registrar General as per the directives of Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, said Mohamamd Saifur Rahman, special officer of the Supreme Court.
It also directed the subordinate court concerned to hear cases related to emergency bail through virtual presence using technology during the ongoing holidays.
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Justice Obaidul Hassan has been given the responsibility of hearing all urgent writs and civil motions while Justice Jahangir Hossain will hear all urgent criminal motions and bail hearings and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar has been given the responsibility of hearing urgent civil matters.
Besides, Justice Md Nuruzzaman of the Appellate Division has been given the responsibility of chamber judge.
Earlier in the day, a full-court meeting was held with the justices of the two divisions – High Court Division and Appellate Division – of the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain in the chair. It was decided in the meeting to conduct judicial activities using information technology in urgent cases.
The full court meeting approved the practice direction prepared by the Rule Amendment Committee for conducting judicial activities of the High Court Division. It also approved the practice direction prepared by the High Court for conducting judicial proceedings of the lower courts through virtual hearings through the use of information technology under Section 5 of the Ordinance.
These practice directions were published on the Supreme Court website this evening.
It also directed the District and Sessions Judges, Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal, Special Judge, Metropolitan Session Judge, Child Court Judge, Anti-Terrorism Tribunal Judge, Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge, Public Safety Disturbance Crime Prevention Tribunal judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to conduct judicial activities to dispose of the cases through virtual presence using technology during the crisis caused by coronavirus outbreak.
On April 26, a full-court meeting, led by the Chief Justice, was held through video conference, where a decision has taken to remove all legal obstacles for conducting virtual court.
An ordinance was promulgated on Sunday (today) allowing courts to run trial proceedings through videoconferences and other digital facilities. President Abdul Hamid promulgated the ordinance.
Later, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a gazette notification, saying that it will take immediate effect.
The Cabinet on Thursday cleared the draft of an ordinance to pave the way for courts to run trial proceedings through videoconferences and other digital means using the information technology.
