Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
Secretary, Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Bangladesh.
The three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, were regulated by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900, under which the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong had jurisdiction regarding civil and criminal disputes arising out of the region. Due to geographical distance, backlogs of cases and administration of justice by the executive branch rather than the judiciary, the people of the region faced obstacles in terms of access to justice. Accordingly, in 2003, the Regulations were amended to provide for the establishment of Civil Courts, Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in each of the three districts. The amendment was to be effected by gazette notification, but no such notification was published for three years. The three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, were regulated by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900, under which the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong had jurisdiction regarding civil and criminal disputes arising out of the region. Due to geographical distance, backlogs of cases and administration of justice by the executive branch rather than the judiciary, the people of the region faced obstacles in terms of access to justice. Accordingly, in 2003, the Regulations were amended to provide for the establishment of Civil Courts, Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in each of the three districts. The amendment was to be effected by gazette notification, but no such notification was published for three years.
The High Court issued a Rule Nisi calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why the provisions of the relevant laws should not be brought into effect by way of publication of a notification in the official gazette.
Mr. Justice A.B.M. KhairulHaque
Mr. Justice Abdul Awal
The Court on 24.02.2008 delivered a judgment directing the establishment of District Judge and Joint District Judge Courts, also to operate as Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in the three hill districts within one year.
Mr. Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque
Mr. Justice Abdul Awal
Constitution, Articles 27, 31;
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2003;
The Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Act, 2000
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
Secretary, Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Bangladesh.
The three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, were regulated by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900, under which the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong had jurisdiction regarding civil and criminal disputes arising out of the region. Due to geographical distance, backlogs of cases and administration of justice by the executive branch rather than the judiciary, the people of the region faced obstacles in terms of access to justice. Accordingly, in 2003, the Regulations were amended to provide for the establishment of Civil Courts, Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in each of the three districts. The amendment was to be effected by gazette notification, but no such notification was published for three years. The three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, were regulated by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900, under which the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong had jurisdiction regarding civil and criminal disputes arising out of the region. Due to geographical distance, backlogs of cases and administration of justice by the executive branch rather than the judiciary, the people of the region faced obstacles in terms of access to justice. Accordingly, in 2003, the Regulations were amended to provide for the establishment of Civil Courts, Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in each of the three districts. The amendment was to be effected by gazette notification, but no such notification was published for three years.
The High Court issued a Rule Nisi calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why the provisions of the relevant laws should not be brought into effect by way of publication of a notification in the official gazette.
Mr. Justice A.B.M. KhairulHaque,
Mr. Justice Abdul Awal
The Court on 24.02.2008 delivered a judgment directing the establishment of District Judge and Joint District Judge Courts, also to operate as Sessions Courts and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Tribunals in the three hill districts within one year.
Mr. Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque,
Mr. Justice Abdul Awal
Constitution, Articles 27, 31;
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2003;
The Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Act, 2000