Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has decided to operate necessary number of courts -- at all tiers -- during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday so that people can move cases to get remedy from courts.

The functions of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division, its Chamber Court and High Court Division are operating virtually amid the government-imposed restrictions in order to continue rule of law and to protect the constitutional rights of people of the country, a SC press release said yesterday (Sunday).

It said the Appellate Division has disposed of 10,003 cases between July 13 last year and May 6 this year through virtual hearing.

Besides, more than 500 criminal petitions are being settled at the High Court Division and over 100 lawyers are attending the hearing virtually every working day, the press release said. 

Contacted, SC Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman, who issued the press release, could not say how many cases are now pending with the Appellate and HC Divisions and how many cases have been disposed of by the HC during the period (July 13 last year to May 6 this year).

He said the subordinate courts across the country have disposed of bail petitions in total 58,605 criminal cases through virtual hearings and granted bail to 31,208 under-trial prisoners in 18 working days since April 12 to May 6 this year.

A total of 1,03,437 under-trial prisoners were released from jails after securing bail in two phases, Saifur said in the press release. 

The first phase of virtual court proceedings started on May 11 last year and continued till August 4 last year and the second phase started April 12 this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

Total 21 SC judges, 231 lower court judges, 200 staff members of the SC and 458 staffers of subordinate courts have become infected with Covid-19 and one judge and six employees died from Covid-19 while discharging their duties, the press release added.