Give protocol to persons as per warrant of precedence: HC

Dhaka, Aug 07 – In an order, the High Court (HC) on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned of the government to continue providing privileges (protocol) “without fail” to those who are supposed to get such privileges as per the warrant of the precedence.In response to a writ petition, the vacation bench of the HC comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order.
Advocate Shahinur Rahman, a Supreme Court lawyer filed the writ petition with the HC seeking necessary order over the issue.
In its order, the HC bench said, “We are of the view that, at the present context, it is imperative to give direction upon the concerned persons, in particular, the Deputy Commissioners, and the Superintendents of Police and other concerned in the metropolitan cities and all other townships, to provide the requisite privileges to all who have been extended such privileges by virtue of the Constitution, Warrant of Precedence and the laws of this land.”
Accordingly, the aforesaid persons and all other concerned are directed to continue providing privileges (protocol) without fail, to those who have been extended such privileges (protocol) as per the Warrant of Precedence, the HC order said.
“It is important to recognize that while we do speak our thoughts in Court, sometimes it may be taken out of context and it may be so that some fail to understand the message that we intend to convey,” the HC order said.
In the case at hand, the words of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Mr Justice KM Kamrul Kader had been taken out of context and has thus gone on to create confusion in numerous cases, the HC order said.
“In the future, it is imperative that people not jump to conclusions simply based on the words uttered by the Court without having gone through the final judgment, where the Court is allowed time to reflect and properly articulate its intentions and thoughts,” according to the HC order.
And so, it is important to wait for the final pronouncement of our judgments to truly understand or grasp what it is that we, as justice, intend to relay. As such, it is important to remind everyone that when the justices of the Courts think aloud and speak their thoughts, it is risky to take their words in that situation as being the ultimate version, the HC order said.
The HC order also said, “This holds most true for those burdened with the task of delivering news to the public. Being the mouthpiece of the agents of society and State, we hold journalists to high esteem and thus expect them to also bear great responsibility. Such responsibility must entail, reflecting the whole truth, as opposed to simply highlighting fractions of it.”
The HC directed the Registrar General of the Supreme Court to circulate the copy of this order to all District Judges of the country immediately.
The Cabinet Secretary and the Secretary-in-Charge of Ministry of Public Administration have been asked to work immediately in accordance with the HC order.
Earlier, on July 31, the HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader observed that government officials are merely the servants of the republic, and they are not “very important persons” (VIPs).
Only the president and the prime minister of the country are the VVIPs (very, very important persons) and security issues are involved with regard to their movements, said the bench said while hearing a writ petition filed in connection with the death of 13-year-old Titash Ghosh. – Staff Reporter