SC’s Appellate Division: Full bench to start holding virtual proceedings

After four months, a full bench of Supreme Court's Appellate Division will start judicial functions virtually from today to hear and dispose of urgent cases.

The six-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, will begin proceedings at 10am and continue till 1:15pm.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court administration issued a circular, saying the bench will operate judicial functions on Monday and Thursday every week till further order.

The chief justice has decided to run virtual proceedings at the Appellate Division, strictly following health guidelines, according to the circular.

The last time a full bench of the Appellate Division had conducted proceedings was on March 12. Then the SC's Appellate and High Court divisions went on an annual vacation.

The chief justice declared general holiday for all courts across the country from March 26 due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Justice Md Nuruzzaman, an Appellate Division judge, has been holding hearings and disposing of cases as the division's chamber judge throughout the period.

On July 8, the chief justice at a full court meeting decided to continue running virtual functions of the Appellate and HC divisions until the situation improves.

The meeting decided that the chief justice will constitute at least four to five division benches of the HC, so they can act with judicial powers like that of regular division benches.

Justice Mahmud will increase single judge benches of the HC from the existing 13 to hear and dispose of more cases.

Al this will be done after ensuring necessary logistical support, including internet and server facilities.

The chief justice also decided to assign all judges of the HC division to conduct virtual court functions by rotation.