Staff Reporter :
Chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Sunday observed that both life and livelihood are important, but safety of life is the first priority and then livelihood.
The Chief Justice made the observation after Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Secretary Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal requested him (CJ) to increase the number of virtual benches of the High Court for dealing with more cases.
The chief justice said, “We (judges) too have come from the Bar (Supreme Court Bar Association). We understand the problems of the lawyers. Both life and livelihood are important. Life is the first priority and then livelihood. We cannot open all the courts in this situation.”
He was presiding over a six-member full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for virtually hearing and disposing of cases.
Ruhul Quddus said only four HC benches are now virtually running for hearing and disposing of cases.
“A full Bench and chamber judge of the Appellate Division are virtually functioning for five days every week. Lawyers have been habituated to virtually move cases in last one year (of pandemic period). Currently, holy Ramadan is going on and Eid-ul-Fitr is ahead. If the number of High Court
benches is increased to at least 10, the lawyers would be benefited,” Ruhul Quddus said.
Former SCBA Vice-President Md Ozi Ullah also urged the Chief Justice to increase the HC benches to deal with bail petitions and motions.
Chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said the Appellate Division is now running with only 40 staff members considering the risk of infection and four HC Benches need more staffers for operating functions.
More staff members will be required to operate 10 HC benches and they will have to be present physically in courts in this situation, risking Covid-19 infection, he added.
The chief justice said, “I take the decisions consulting with all judges. I have reduced the number of benches considering the issues of judges, lawyers and litigants. We will look into the issue of increasing the number of High Court Benches considering the coronavirus situation.”
“Stay home and stay safe,” Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said by reminding the message given by the World Health Organization.
Justice Muhammad Imman Ali, a Senior Judge of the Appellate Division, said many court staff members will have to come to the court if the number of benches is increased. “They have families. We cannot push them into danger,” he said.
Obaidul Hassan, another judge of the Appellate Division, said SCBA Secretary Ruhul Quddus has considered the issues of the lawyers only, but the chief justice has to take decision considering the whole judiciary.
