Lawyers of the Supreme Court (SC) have requested Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain to take steps for functioning of regular court in a bid to ease sufferings of litigants as well as the people.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazol, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), raised the issue during exchange of Eid greetings with the Chief Justice (CJ) in the beginning of day’s proceedings after reopening of the apex court following a two-week annual and Eid vacation.
The SCBA Secretary told the Chief Justice that the Covid-19 pandemic situation is improving in the country. The lawyers of the Supreme Court have been demanding the functioning of regular court as thousands of cases are now pending. Now steps can be taken in this regard, he added.
In reply, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said that they were observing the situation and would take further steps over regular court functioning if the situation is improved further.
He told the SCBA Secretary that they have already constituted more benches of the High Court (HC) for virtually hearing and disposing of urgent cases and asked the lower courts across the country to allow the accused of criminal charges to surrender before their courts for bail in connection with the cases filed against them.
He, however, assured the lawyers of more virtual benches. “If it is needed, we will constitute more virtual benches to dispose of pending cases,” said the Chief Justice.
Earlier on Saturday, the Chief Justice constituted nine more HC benches for virtually hearing and disposing of urgent cases. The benches began performing from Sunday (May 23). Now, a total of 16 benches of the High Court are performing judicial functions virtually, but they cannot hold hearings on anticipatory bail petitions.
The Chief Justice in a notification also asked the Chief Judicial Magistrates (CJMs), Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (CMMs), Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and other tribunals across the country to allow the accused of criminal charges to surrender before their courts in connection with the cases filed against them.
Earlier, the lower courts used to hear and dispose of only bail petitions filed by the detained accused.
Following the rise in Covid-19 cases in late March, the Supreme Court administration issued a notification on April 4 signed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain to run court function on a very limited scale from April 5.
The functions of the Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court have been running virtually since the day amid the government-imposed restrictions in order to continue rule of law and to protect the constitutional rights of people of the country.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court went on an annual vacation on May 7 and reopened on Sunday (May 23). Only some vacation benches of the High Court functioned virtually during this time.
A group of SC lawyers under the banner of Sadharan Ainjibi Parishad (General Lawyers’ Council) have formed human chains on the SCBA office premises on different days since April 5 demanding that the Chief Justice form more virtual benches of the Appellate and High Court Divisions for quick disposal of cases in the interest of lawyers and litigants. They also demanded functioning of actual benches.
The lawyers led by former SCBA secretary Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi also submitted memorandum to the Chief Justice in favour of their demand.
