Dhaka – The High Court on Monday asked the authorities concerned to submit reports to the Supreme Court and the government with explanations if any case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act-2000 is not disposed of within the stipulated 180 days.
The tribunal, public prosecutor and police officer concerned will have to submit the reports as per section 31 (ka) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
An HC bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice JBM Hassan passed the order after hearing two reports submitted in compliance with its earlier order.
The court also asked the Law and Home ministries to submit a report before the tribunal concerned mentioning the action taken against the public prosecutor and investigation officer concerned for their negligence of duty.
During the hearing, Justice M Enayetur Rahim said if the section 31 (ka) is followed, 50 percent cases filed under the act will be disposed of in a year.
Earlier on November, the High Court asked the law secretary and the registrar general of the Supreme Court to explain the enforcement of the section 31 (ka).
As per the section 31 (ka) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act-2000, if a case filed under section 20 of the act is not disposed of within 180 days, the tribunal concerned will inform the Supreme Court of it within 30 days explaining the reasons behind the failure. A copy will also be submitted to the government.
After reviewing the report, the authorities concerned will take action against those responsible for the failure in disposing of the case within the stipulated time, it said.
A case was filed with Rangunia Police Station in Chittagong on February 19, 2015 against one Milad Hossain for killing his wife. Later, the case was shifted to the Chittagong Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2.
The tribunal framed charges against Milad Hossain on March 21 last but the prosecution could not produce any witnesses till today, he said.
As the case was not disposed of within 180 days, a petition was filed with the High Court seeking bail for Milad. -UNB
