SC tightens access to court premises

The Supreme Court administration has imposed restrictions on the entry of litigants and other unauthorised individuals into the court premises, including courtrooms and the Supreme Court Bar Association building, citing growing security concerns and disruptions to judicial proceedings.

SC’s Registrar General Mohammad Habibur Rahman Siddiquee issued a notification to this effect yesterday saying that the unrestricted movement of litigants and unexpected visitors across various buildings, corridors and courtrooms of SC has been hampering the smooth conduct of judicial activities and posing risks to the safety of judges, lawyers and court officials.

In order to ensure overall security, the notice requested all practising lawyers and their assistants to carry their official identity cards at all times while entering different buildings, courtrooms and sections of the SC. 

They have also been asked to produce their National Identity Cards, passports or official identifications upon demand by on-duty law enforcement personnel.

The notice further said that, in the interest of maintaining security and limiting public gatherings, each lawyer will be allowed to facilitate the entry of a maximum of two case-related persons or litigants per day into the SCBA building, subject to prior approval from the Bar Association.

The registrar general requested the president and secretary of the SCBA to take necessary measures to implement the decision.