The victim can personally appoint a lawyer at the tribunal

This information has been given in a circular issued by the Judicial Branch of the High Court Division, “Regarding the appointment of a personal lawyer for the complainant/victim in the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal”. The notification, signed by High Court Division Registrar (Judiciary) SK M Tofail Hasan, was published on the Supreme Court website last Thursday.

The notification mentions that the concerned parties are facing various hurdles in appointing lawyers personally for the complainants/victims in the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal. According to the notification, the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898 apply to the filing, investigation, trial and disposal of any crime complaint in the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal as per the provisions of Section 25 of the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Act of 2000. The person conducting the case on behalf of the complainant in the tribunal is considered to be the public prosecutor. Following the provisions of Sections 493 and 495 of the said Code of Procedure, the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal has the opportunity to conduct the case on behalf of the complainant/victim by personally appointing a lawyer. This must be clear to all concerned.

The notification further states that in this situation the complainant/victim in the Prevention of Torture against Women and Children Tribunal can conduct the case by personally appointing a lawyer on his/her behalf following the provisions laid down in Sections 493 and 495 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898—the matter is clarified through this notification.

Credit prothomalo