Chief Justice forms 3 HC benches for virtually hearing urgent cases

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain today formed three High Court benches -- comprising of one judge each -- to hold virtual hearings and disposing of urgent cases during the ongoing closure due to the coronavirus outbreak.         

The three High Court judges are: Justice Obaidul Hassan, Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, according to Supreme Court sources.              

Earlier in the day, the chief justice decided to constitute the benches during a full court meeting with the judges of Supreme Court's Appellate and High Court divisions via a video conference.

The chief justice also planned on issuing necessary directives for the lower courts of the country for holding trial proceedings of urgent cases using digital media.

Chief justice will issue necessary directives in line with the ordinance issued by President Md Abdul Hamid on Saturday allowing the virtual court functions, according to the sources.    

Lawyers, witnesses and accused don't have to be present in court during virtual hearing

Law Minister Anisul Huq today said none of the lawyers, witnesses or accused have to be physically present at court during the virtual hearing and disposing of cases.             

"Under the Technology Usage Ordinance of the Court, 2020, virtual appearance of lawyers, witnesses and accused of the cases will be treated as their physical appearance," he said in a video message this afternoon.      

The law minister said lower courts will hold trial proceedings by using information and communication technology under the ordinance.

Some judges, magistrates, lawyers and court staff have already been trained on virtual court proceedings.

The chief justice will set some "practice directives" in line with the ordinance for running court functions, Anisul said.           

The law minister said the start of virtual court proceedings will open a new chapter in the history of judiciary of Bangladesh and be one step forward in establishing a digital country which is a dream of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.        

Regular activities of all courts across the country including the Appellate and High Court divisions of the country have remained shut since March 26 to contain the spread of coronavirus. The closure is scheduled till May 16.

Several lawyers have requested the chief justice to allow virtual court functions during the ongoing closure.

Subsequently, the cabinet on May 7 approved an ordinance allowing courts to hold trials digitally using the information technology.