Chief justice to seek president’s approval for ‘virtual’ hearing of urgent cases

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday decided to keep the court functions closed till May 5 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

He took the decision at a full court meeting with the judges of both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court.  The meeting was held through video conference.

The meeting decided to amend the rules for holding virtual hearing of very urgent cases through online and video conference.     

The SC judges also decided that the chief justice will request President Abdul Hamid to issue an ordinance so that the subordinate courts can hold virtual hearing of the urgent cases, SC sources said.

The chief justice may constitute a committee for amending the rules with necessary provisions and guidelines. He also decided to suspend the limited court functions till May 3.

The judges and lawyers will be given training through the United Nations Development Programme for holding virtual hearing and disposing of the cases through digital services.

The magistrates concerned will hear the urgent cases as usual during the ongoing closure of courts, sources said.

The chief justice on April 23 decided to operate functions of courts on a limited scale following demands from some lawyers, in order to hear and dispose of very urgent cases. This decision then was suspended till April 27. Supreme Court Registrar General Md Ali Akbar issued two separate circulars to this effect, citing unavoidable reasons.

The CJ however convened a full court meeting with judges of Appellate and High Court Divisions yesterday and decided to keep the court functions closed till May 5.