Around 4,800 criminal cases have piled up in Lalmonirhat court because of a shortage of judges for the last two months. With only two judges present at the court, many of petitions filed by deprived citizens from various villages have remained shelved because of the workload.
Sources from the court said eight out of ten posts for judges have remained vacant for the last two months. Only two judges, the chief judicial magistrate and senior judicial magistrate, have been running the court till now. The vacant positions for judges include the district and session judge, joint district judges and judicial magistrates.
“We have been roaming the court premises for the last two months, but our cases are yet to be heard due to the shortage of judges,” said Meherun Bewa, a resident of Patgram in Hatibandha upazila.
Most petitioners complain they are now suffering as the sluggish condition of the court has cost them more money and time.
Meanwhile, lawyers at the court have complained that they find no work as most cases are pending because of the shortage of judges.