Efficient \\\'village court\\\' to resolve grassroots litigations underscored

RAJSHAHI, Dec 20 (BSS): 'Village Court', the lowest tier of country's judicial process, needs to be effective and strengthened as it has a vital role to play in resolving the grassroots minor litigations.
The village court could be an effective tool for successful and logical disposal of the village level lawsuits if it can work neutrally and freed from political and other influences.
Academics, legal practitioners and public representatives viewed emphasis should be given to ensuring transparency and accountability of all the persons concerned.
The number of cases in our village court has gradually been increasing as many people especially the repressed women are dependent on it to get justice, said Golam Mostofa, chairman of Huzrippara Union Parishad under Paba Upazila of the district.
"We have disposed of around 200 cases out of 250 cognized ones in the last 2013-14 fiscal year and 75 other cases are in trial process at present," he mentioned. He, however, said the village court is beset with manifold problems.
In many cases, he said, the accused and the plaintiffs couldn't be appeared before the court. The court order for providing compensation also couldn't be executed properly.
"We have to face illogical and unethical pressure from the influential sides in conducting the court," he depicted.
He said the UP chairmen and members need to be trained. There is need of appointing a legal expert and bench assistant to each of the village courts for the sake of making it strengthened and effective.
Some other UP chairmen like Abul Kalam Azad of Haragram, Shahjahan Ali of Damkura, Nazrul Islam of Haripur and Mafidul Islam Bachhu of Harian also supported the demands.
Advocate Hamidul Haque, a senior legal practitioner of Rajshahi Bar, said the government should take immediate step to make the village courts time-fitting to meet the demands of society.
In the country, many people live in rural areas and most of them are poor and illiterate and they aren't aware about the modern judicial system.
Moreover, the poor community people have no financial capacity to continue their litigations in cities and towns for long. So, he said if there is any suitable place for speedy trial of the village-level chaos many of the distressed people can protect them from manifold hassle and expenditures.
As a result of the quick trial, prevalence and intensity of confusion and disorder can be checked to a greater extent, which will help maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in rural lives.