Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain decided not to proceed any kind of trial activities in the courts, even not in a short scale, during the ongoing shutdown period, considering the safety of the court related people and the litigants.
The Chief Justice took the decision after consulting with the other judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, said a notification issued in this regard on Saturday by Registrar General of the Supreme Court Md Ali Akbar.
The notification said also, activities of all the courts, including the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, have already suspended Court activities until April 25 as a precautionary measure to combat the infection of virus Covid-19.
“In this circumstance, the Chief Justice has discussed with the other judges of the Appellate Division. The judges opined that the presence of the judges, lawyers, officials of the courts, lawyer-assistants and other concerned persons are mandatory to run trail activities even in a short scale. So be to conduct court proceedings even in a short scale in this ongoing crisis situation will not be appropriate,” read the notification.
The notification also reminded the declaration of the Supreme Court issued on April 4 extending the bail term for two weeks for those who have already granted it in criminal cases for a particular period considering the ongoing anomalous situation amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The time extension will come into effect with the opening of the courts after the shutdown.
The apex court also extended till the same time the effectiveness of those court orders by which it stayed the trial proceedings of some civil cases for a particular period and by which it ordered to maintain status quo upon some cases for different terms.
Some judges will, however, continue work for hearing and disposing of urgent cases including bail petitions as per constitutional obligations, mentioned the notification.
