Thirteen members of the High Court division have tested positive for Covid-19 recently
Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh, Supreme Court’s Appellate Division and High Court Division has issued a notification to conduct judicial proceedings virtually from Wednesday.
The announcement came through a notice signed by SC Registrar General Md Ali Akhbar on Tuesday, reports BSS.
According to the notice, issued as per the directive of the chief justice, all benches of the Appellate Division and the High Court Division will use information technology and follow practice guidance in conducting judicial work from Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique hinted that proceedings might be conducted virtually as several judges and staff have been infected with Covid-19, reports UNB.
“Citing the worsening Covid-19 situation, it seems that we’ll have to conduct trials through virtual courts again. Many cases were disposed of during the virtual court hearing,” he said while conducting judicial activities at the Appellate Division.
Thirteen judges of the High Court division and a number of judges and staff have tested positive with Covid-19, he added.
Besides, Biswajit Debnath, deputy attorney general, who was present at the court said: “Our attorney general and additional attorney general were found infected with Covid-19 and a number of lower court judges were also infected with the virus.”
The activities in all courts of the country remained suspended for several days due to the Covid-19 surge.
On May 9 in 2020, an ordinance was issued at the request of the Supreme Court to use information technology in court proceedings such as trials, judicial investigations, appeal hearings, hearing testimonies or arguments and also to ensure the presence of all parties while a court issues an order or announces a verdict.
On May 10 last year, an ordinance was promulgated allowing courts to run trial proceedings through video conferences and availing of other digital facilities.
President Abdul Hamid promulgated the ordinance.
Later, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a gazette notification, saying that it will take immediate effect.
