Lawyers challenge suspension of convicts’ pre-trial custody period deduction
Eleven Supreme Court lawyers on Sunday filed a public interest litigation challenging the legality of law ministry’s decision to suspend deduction of convicts’ pre-trial custody periods.
A bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman adjourned the hearing until the Supreme Court resumes in April 1 after celebrating a 17-day vacation starting from March 15.
The bench asked the petitioners’ lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain to serve legal notice to law ministry and the Supreme Court registrar general demanding explanations on the suspension of deduction of pre-trial custody periods of convicts.
Khandker Mahbub submitted that his clients could have been released if they enjoyed the privilege of deduction of custody period following Section 35A of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. Which did not happen as the Supreme Court on the ministry law’s proposal suspended the privilege by cancelling the Supreme Court’s previous circular issued on May 29, 2017 over the issue. (Source: New Age)
