72 Judges Appointed as Vacation Judges
File Photo
The government has appointed 72 judges across the country as ‘vacation judges’ to handle urgent civil and criminal cases during the court recess. These judges will serve from June 1 to June 15, taking responsibility for receiving, hearing, and disposing of urgent cases.
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on Sunday.
According to the notification, district and sessions judges, metropolitan sessions judges, and judges of special tribunals have been assigned as vacation judges for different districts under the approval and recommendation of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. District and Sessions Judge Md. Rafiqul Islam has been assigned for Dhaka district (excluding the metropolitan area). Meanwhile, Judge Md. Abdullah Al Mamun of Special Judge Court-5 will handle Dhaka metropolitan area, including 10 special judge courts, speedy trial tribunals, and the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal.
In addition, Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Hasanul Islam has been assigned for Chattogram metropolitan area, Judge Md. Asadullah of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 in Khulna for Khulna metropolitan area, Family Appellate Court Judge Md. Zulfiqar Ullah for Rajshahi metropolitan area, and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Moshfiqur Rahman Khan for Rangpur metropolitan area.
The notification states that vacation judges will exercise powers to hear and dispose of urgent criminal cases under the relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. They will also handle urgent civil cases and hearings under the Civil Courts Act, 1887. In addition, they will have authority to conduct proceedings under the Children Act, 2013.
During the vacation period, judges on duty will be allowed to use government vehicles and will receive 15 days of vacation allowance. They will also be entitled to TA/DA if assigned duties outside their regular workplaces.
However, labor courts, labor appellate tribunals, administrative tribunals, administrative appellate tribunals, the Court of Settlement, and the Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal have been excluded from the vacation schedule.
The leave system for subordinate court judges will now be implemented in two phases under the revised arrangement. The decision will take effect from June this year and December each year. Under the new system, 15 days of leave will be observed in the first half of June and another 15 days in the second half of December.
The decision was taken at a full court meeting of the Supreme Court held on February 9 this year.
