HC fines GPH Ispat Tk 5cr; money to fund treatment of July injured

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday fined GPH Ispat Tk 5 crore for filing a new writ petition while concealing information about a pending stay order before the Appellate Division's Chamber Judge Court.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukdar and Justice Mahmud Hossain passed the order following a hearing on Wednesday, July 29.

The court ordered the company to deposit the fined amount with the Supreme Court Registrar General’s Office within the next one month. The High Court directed the authorities concerned to spend the money on the medical treatment of injured July fighters.

Attorney General Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the state during the hearing.

Speaking to journalists after the order, Attorney General Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajal said a loan defaulter, who is also a Commercially Important Person (CIP), had filed a writ petition seeking exemption from loan defaulter status and restoration of CIP status. However, the High Court previously dismissed that petition.

While the High Court's order was under challenge before the Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division, an application was filed in a trial court. Subsequently, concealing those facts, another writ petition was filed on the same matter.

When the detailed history was brought to the High Court's attention, the court took it into account and imposed the Tk 5 crore fines on GPH Ispat. The High Court ordered the money to be deposited with the Supreme Court Registrar General's Office and instructed that the funds be spent on the medical treatment of injured July fighters.

-SA