15,82,802 cases pending in lower courts across country

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As many as 15,82,802 cases were pending with the lower courts across the country until January 1 last, said Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shafique Ahmed in the Jatiya Sangsad Tuesday, reports BSS.
Of them, 6,11,946 are civil cases and the rest 9,70,856 are criminal, he said replying to a question raised by BNP lawmaker Nazim Uddin Ahmed.
The minister said the government has undertaken various steps for disposing of these cases speedily. "To dispose of the cases, 210 assistant judges and judicial magistrates were already appointed and they joined their work on January 17 last," he said.
Besides, the minister said, the issue of appointing 100 more assistant judges and judicial magistrates is under process.
Barrister Shafique said the government is actively considering settling the pending cases through alternative system side by side with the existing system.
He said the provision for settling the disputes through alternative system is not mandatory. But, he said, to apply the rule of settling dispute through alternative system, amendment of the civil and criminal procedures is being considered.
"The Law Commission has already been requested to give their recommendation to this end and after getting the recommendations, necessary steps would be taken in this connection," he said.