Appellate Division proceedings disrupted as water leaks through ceiling

Judicial proceedings were disrupted for some time in the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division due to water leaking on judges' seats from the ceiling on Thursday. 

This prompted Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other judges to leave the courtroom for their private chamber, halting the proceedings for 17 minutes.

From the beginning of the day’s judicial proceedings, water was dripping on the seat of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim, who was sitting on the right side of the judges. He informed his bench officer about it. 

Eventually, the chief justice also noticed the water dripping. At 9:44am, the chief justice and five judges left the courtroom for their private chamber.

Later, the registrar general, along with officers from the Supreme Court administration, rushed to the scene. The judges' seats were quickly moved from the area. However, judicial proceedings resumed in the courtroom approximately 18 minutes later.

After the judicial proceedings restarted, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin drew the chief justice's attention, suggesting that the ceiling was in a risky condition and should be thoroughly inspected by engineers.

Agreeing with the attorney general, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan said: “The ceiling was in a risky state, and engineers will start work today (Thursday).” 

He also called for the attorney general's cooperation in this matter.

The Appellate Division's courtroom has previously experienced incidents of water and plaster falling from the ceiling. Despite these risks, judicial proceedings in the Appellate Division have been continuing.