Safety of life is first priority: CJ
19 April, 2021 12:00 AM
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Sunday said life and livelihood both are essential and important, but during this ongoing difficult time of pandemic, safety of life is the first priority.
“We have to keep in mind that safety of life is the first priority, and then comes the livelihood. The way people are getting infected by coronavirus, we cannot resume proceedings of all the courts. Proceedings of all the courts should have been suspended in this situation,” he said, reports BSS.
The chief justice said these while Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal joined virtually the hearing of the Appellate Division and requested him (CJ) to increase the number of High Court virtual benches.
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Ruhul Quddus said only four HC benches are now virtually running for hearing and disposing of cases.
A full bench and chamber judge of the Appellate Division are virtually functioning for five days every week. Lawyers have been habituated to virtually move cases in last one year (of pandemic period). Currently, holy Ramadan is going and Eid-ul-Fitr is ahead. If the number of High Court benches is increased to at least 10, the lawyers would be benefited, Ruhul Quddus said.
Former SCBA vice president Md Ozi Ullah also urged the chief justice to increase the HC benches to deal with bail petitions (on which no rule was issued) and motions.
7,204 under-trial prisoners released on bail in 3 working days Star Digital Report Star Digital Report
A total of 7,204 under-trial prisoners have been released from jail after they secured bail from virtual courts across the country in the last three working days.
Supreme Court Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman in a statement said the subordinate courts have disposed of 3,986 bail petitions in connection with different criminal cases through virtual hearings and granted bail to 2,360 under-trial prisoners yesterday.
With yesterday s bail orders, a total of 7,204 people received bail from the subordinate courts across the country on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he said.
The regular activities of courts across the country including the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court are suspended due to the ongoing rapid surge of Covid-19 cases and deaths. The closures are scheduled to continue till April 21.
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