The High Court (HC) has issued a rule asking why arrangements should not be made to broadcast live the hearings of important and constitutional cases of the Supreme Court.
The rule was issued on Tuesday by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammed Tazrul Hossain after a hearing on the related writ petition, reports Bangla Tribune.
The respondents in the case—the registrar general of the Supreme Court, the secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Law, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
The court has also fixed June 26 for the next order in the matter.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared on behalf of the petitioners, assisted by Advocate Mohammad Saddam Hossain.
Earlier, on January 27, a writ petition was filed with the HC seeking the live broadcast of hearings of public interest and constitutional cases filed in the Supreme Court.
The petition was filed by 10 individuals in the relevant branch of the HC.
The petitioners are: Supreme Court lawyers Saddam Hossain, Mizanun Haque, Abdullah Sadik, and Aminul Islam Shakil; Judge Court lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad; and Dhaka University law students Shahnewaz Sakib, Mahmudul Hasan, Sabbir Hasan, Habibur Rahman Al Hasan, Rafiur Rabbi, and Shamim Shahidi.
Later, Advocate Shishir Manir, representing the petitioners, said that the right to information is recognized by law, and transparent justice is a constitutional right.
In many countries, hearings of important cases are broadcast live. According to Article 35 of the constitution, transparent and accountable justice is a fundamental right.
The writ petition sought a rule asking why the hearings of important Supreme Court cases should not be broadcast live.
It also requested the formation of a committee to draft a policy in this regard.
Additionally, it sought a directive for the Ministry of ICT to provide necessary support for broadcasting hearings of significant ongoing cases in the Appellate Division.
