Special High Court Bench to be set up to speed up appeals in women, child abuse cases

In a significant move aimed at expediting justice in cases involving violence against women and children, a special bench is set to be established at the High Court to hear and dispose of appeals filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

The special bench is scheduled to begin operations from Sunday (June 7), Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal announced after the initiative received approval from Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury following a proposal placed before the Appellate Division.

Speaking to reporters at his office, the Attorney General said the decision was taken in light of growing concerns over delays in the disposal of sensitive criminal cases, particularly those involving women and children.

He referred to the widely discussed rape and murder case of child Ramisa, in which a lower court recently sentenced two accused to death. However, under the law, such verdicts require confirmation by the High Court before becoming final, often resulting in lengthy delays that prevent victims’ families from seeing justice carried out within a reasonable timeframe.

According to the Attorney General, the newly formed bench will exclusively hear important appeals and death reference cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. High-profile cases, including those involving Ramisa, Aasia and Rosu Khan, are expected to be taken up by the bench on a priority basis.

He further stated that government lawyers have been instructed not to seek adjournments during hearings before the special bench, a measure intended to ensure uninterrupted proceedings and speedier disposal of cases.

Kazal also noted that the activities of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals have been allowed to continue even during the judiciary’s vacation period, describing the move as an important step toward strengthening public confidence in the justice system.

Calling the initiative a “milestone decision,” he said it reflects the judiciary’s commitment to reducing case backlogs, accelerating the trial process and restoring trust in the courts.

At the same time, the Attorney General emphasized that justice should not be limited to high-profile cases alone.

“Whenever a case receives public attention, it tends to get priority. But every victim deserves justice. Ensuring the timely disposal of all criminal cases and bringing offenders to justice is a responsibility of the state,” he said.