Legal notice seeks division of Dhaka district judge courts into north, south

A legal notice has been served seeking steps to divide the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court and the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court into two separate judicial regions: Dhaka North and Dhaka South. Supreme Court lawyer Salah Uddin Regan sent the notice to the Law Minister, the Secretary of the Law and Justice Division and the Registrar General of the Supreme Court, urging necessary administrative, legal and judicial measures in this regard.

In the notice sent on Thursday, September 17, a request was made to take necessary steps to establish or reorganise separate District and Sessions Judge's Courts and separate Metropolitan Sessions Courts for Dhaka North and Dhaka South.

The notice stated that alongside Dhaka's huge population and vast geographical area, the number of civil, criminal, family, special and metropolitan criminal cases is steadily increasing. As a result, additional pressure has been created on the current judicial structure.

The legal notice further mentioned that the presence of a large number of litigants, lawyers, witnesses, accused and concerned individuals under the same judicial structure is increasing the pressure on conducting court proceedings. This is creating various complexities in litigants' travel to court, case management and speedy disposal of cases.

Against this backdrop, a proposal has been made to divide Dhaka into two judicial regions, north and south, to make administrative facilities and judicial activities more effective. Under this, the establishment of separate District and Sessions Judge's Courts and Metropolitan Sessions Courts for the two regions has been proposed.

The recipients have been asked to take necessary steps on the matter within 30 days of receiving the notice and inform the notice-giver in writing. The notice also mentioned that a writ petition will be filed in the High Court against the relevant authorities if effective measures are not taken within the stipulated time.