The Supreme Court has stayed a High Court verdict that scrapped the convictions and jail sentences handed down by the executive magistrate-run mobile courts to juveniles across the country.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division, Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the stay order following a petition filed by the government.

The apex court also asked the government to file a leave-to appeal petition challenging the HC verdict.

The stay order on the HC verdict would be in effect till filing of the leave-to appeal petition, the court said.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved the petition before the chamber judge saying that the government would move a leave-to-appeal petition before the SC challenging the HC verdict.

The High Court on March 11 scrapped the convictions and jail sentences handed down by the executive magistrate-run-mobile courts to juveniles.

The court observed that the process under which executive magistrates convicted and sentenced 121 minors through mobile courts was inhumane and in violation of human rights.

The court also declared actions of executive magistrate-run mobile courts convicting children and sentencing them with imprisonments for different tenures on criminal charges illegal and unconstitutional.

It directed authorities concerned of the government to immediately release any children convicted and sentenced by mobile courts, if there were any in custody.