The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The crucial judgment by the Supreme Court on a government appeal challenging a HC ruling over its jurisdiction to dispose of bail petitions in criminal cases under the EPR could not be pronounced yesterday as a judge fell sick.

Before the resumption of the court at 9-20 am, a bench officer informed that the scheduled judgment would not be delivered today, as one judge of the 7-member full court of the Appellate Division fell sick.

"The next date for the announcement of the judgment will be fixed when the judge returns to the court," the bench officer added.

Attorney General Fida M Kamal, who moved the government appeal against the High Court ruling, was present at the court.

On April 22 last year, a High Court division bench, comprising Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice SM Emdadul Huq in its verdict had affirmed that it has the locus standi to dispose of petitions by persons seeking bails in criminal cases under the stringent Emergency Power Rules.

The HC verdict came following an application by an oil trader of Khulna, Maijuddin Sikder, on March 29 last year seeking bail in a case, filed under the EPR, over adulterated oil supply.