CJ constitutes nine more HC benches for virtual hearing

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday constituted nine more High Court benches for virtually hearing and disposing of urgent cases, as the court will reopen today, after a two- week annual vacation. 

With these nine benches, a total of 16 benches of the HC will perform judicial functions from today, using information technology and maintaining health and hygiene guidelines. They , however, cannot hold hearing on anticipatory bail petitions till further notice, Supreme Court sources said.

Of the nine benches constituted yesterday, six are division (two judges) benches, and three are single (one judge) benches, according to a notification issued by the chief justice.

The division benches are of Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol; Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice KM Hafizul Alam; Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim; Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Ahmed Sohel; Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil; and Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman.

The single benches are of Justice Mahmudul Hoque, Justice Zafar Ahmed and, and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin.

A full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, and its chamber bench will conduct judicial functions virtually like they did earlier, Supreme Court Spokesman Mohammad Saifur Rahman told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile yesterday, SC Registrar General Md Ali Akbar issued a circular under directive from the chief justice, stating that the lower courts concerned can hear applications filed by the accused of criminal cases seeking bail upon surrender.

The courts of chief judicial magistrates, metropolitan magistrates, human trafficking offence prevention tribunals, and cyber tribunals will dispose of bail petitions maintaining health guidelines.

The accused will have to surrender before the courts for bail in the cases again.