Rupashibanglanews Desk:
After civil suits, the government is going to introduce Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for criminal cases to ensure quick disposal.
The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) would be amended in the next session of Parliament to incorporate the ADR in it, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said on Saturday.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 117th workshop of judges. “Now it takes four to five years to finish a criminal case which can be finished within six months. Once the CrPC is amended, the Alternative Dispute Resolution will be launched, which will reduce the number of prisoners,” Shafique said.
The sluggishness of civil suits had decreased as ADR was being used to finish those, he said.
“Previously, it took months to issue summons and submit written response in civil suits. Now it takes just a week to issue summons,” he said. “In case of written responses, 60 days is given for first submission and 30 days for the next, at most. The time of trial has also been fixed. So, no one can seek time saying the witness is not present or the counsel is not ready,” he added.
The minister urged the judges to help strengthen democracy and rule of law by conducting trial with honesty and skilfully without any fear. “The state may see dispute with people sometimes. They will get the expected help from the judiciary if you conduct trial impartially in such cases,” he said.
The Justice Training Institute organised the programme presided over by its Acting Director General Mohammad Mafizul Islam.
upload 6oct. newsroom
