HC orders formation of high-level committee on seized items kept at courts, police stations
The 12-member committee has been asked to submit recommendations on improving the preservation and management of seized goods kept at courts and police stations across the country.
Highlights:
- HC orders formation of a 12-member high-level committee.
- Committee to submit recommendations within two months.
- Panel to review management of seized items at courts and police stations.
- HC also directs circulars for speedy disposal of seized property.
The High Court today (8 July) ordered the formation of a 12-member high-level committee to recommend measures for improving the preservation and management of seized items kept in court storerooms and police stations across the country.
The order was passed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammad Tazrul Hossain.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The committee, to be headed by the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been directed to submit its report to the court within two months.
The directive came after the court reviewed a report submitted by the inspector general of police on the preservation of seized goods and vehicles kept at police stations and storerooms.
The matter originated from a writ petition filed on 28 August 2022 by five lawyers - Md Nowab Ali, Md Mujahidul Islam, Mostafizur Rahman, GM Mujahidur Rahman and Imrul Kayes - challenging the authorities' alleged failure to take necessary steps to preserve seized property.
On 30 August 2022, following a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule and directed the inspector general of police to submit a report within six months on the condition and preservation of seized goods and vehicles stored at police stations and storerooms.
Speaking to reporters after today's hearing, writ petitioner counsel Shishir Manir said seized items have remained unused for years at courts and police stations across the country, including in Dhaka.
"Such mismanagement of seized items is not seen anywhere else in the world," he said, adding that the property remains unusable both for the state and for its rightful owners while it stays in storage for years.
He said the petitioners had earlier sent legal notices to the authorities concerned, but received no response, leaving them with no option but to move the High Court.
According to Shishir Manir, the committee will include representatives from Police Headquarters, Bangladesh Bank, Border Guard Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Coast Guard, the Attorney General's Office, subordinate courts and the Dhaka court's public prosecutor's office.
The panel will also include an information technology expert from the ICT ministry, as well as the lawyer and a representative of the writ petitioners. It has also been instructed to review India's experience in storeroom management while preparing its recommendations.
The High Court further directed the inspector general of police to issue a circular to all police stations to expedite the disposal of seized items. It also instructed the registrar general of the Supreme Court to issue a similar circular to subordinate courts.
