The High Court issued a rule asking why arbitration is not a crime in resolving rape cases

News Desk: The High Court has issued a rule asking why rape should not be considered as a 'criminal offense'. At the same time, the court directed to submit a report on other cases pending in the High Court in this regard.

Hearing a writ on Wednesday (October 21), the High Court Justice. A bench comprising Justice Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim passed the order.

Lawyer Yadia Zaman appeared for the writ petition in the court today. Lawyer Shahinuzzaman Shahin, who filed the petition on behalf of the human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), was also present.

Earlier on October 19, a writ petition was filed in the relevant branch of the High Court on behalf of Ask.

The petition seeks directions on how many rape cases have been filed in police stations across the country in the last 10 years and how many cases have been sent to court for trial. Besides, instructions were also sought to implement the provision of trial in the closed court of rape case.

In the writ petition, the case of rape was disposed of uninterruptedly within 180 working days.

The writ petition has named the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.

On October 13, Yaadia Zaman sent a legal notice to the defendants seeking implementation of the law and the High Court's directions in the rape case. Lawyer Yadia Zaman said that the writ petition was filed without any action even after the notice.