The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a circular on continuing virtual courts till June 15.
The circular, signed by Akbar Ali, registrar general of the SC, said that owing to the situation arising out of the coronavirus pandemic the High Court division and Appellate division would carry out their functions virtually from May 31 to June 15, without physical appearance, in line with a related ordinance and directives on practice.
Mohammad Saifur Rahman, spokesperson for the Supreme Court, said another circular stipulated that subordinate courts would also conduct virtual hearings till June 15.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has formed 11 benches to conduct the virtual High Court operations.
Earlier on May 10, the chief justice formed three benches for hearing urgent cases virtually during the shutdown and directed the subordinate courts concerned to hear cases related to emergency bail.
An ordinance was promulgated on the day allowing courts to conduct trial proceedings through videoconference and other digital facilities.
President Abdul Hamid issued the ordinance.
Later, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a gazette notification, saying that it would take immediate effect.
In a separate notification, the Supreme Court said that all offices of the High Court Division and the Appellate Division will operate from Sunday in line with the health guidelines given by the government.
18 HC judges take oath
Eighteen newly appointed judges of the High Court (HC) Division took oath virtually on Saturday, a day after their services were regularized by President M Abdul Hamid.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain administered the oath through a videoconference, which was conducted by Supreme Court Registrar General Md Ali Akbar.
Mohammad Saifur Rahman, the Supreme Court spokesperson, said judges of both the divisions of the apex court joined the virtual ceremony.
President Md Abdul Hamid, in consultation with the chief justice, regularized the services of the 18 judges of the High Court on Friday.
The 18 new judges are, Justice Md Abu Ahmed Zomadar, Justice SM Abdul Mobin, Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, Justice Fatema Najib, Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Molla, Justice SM Kuddus Zaman, Justice Md Atowar Rahman, Justice Khijir Hayat, Justice Shoshangko Shekhor Sarker, Justice Mohammad Ali, Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim, Justice Md Riyaz Uddin Khan, Justice Md Khairul Alam, Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Ahmed Sohel, Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.
Earlier on May 30, 2018, the president appointed the 18 additional judges for two years.
