Dhaka: The High Court on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to provide security to the family members and relatives of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore.

Following a writ petition, an HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice JN Deb Choudhury issued the directive to the Inspector General of Police, police super of Madaripur, upazila nirbahi officer of Rajoir, officer-in-charge and a sub-inspector of Rajoir Police Station, reports UNB.

At the same time, the court asked them to submit a report with information of 37 people who took part in a human chain programme against the High Court judge illegally.

It also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why their failure to prevent a gathering undermining the authority, dignity and status of a High Court judge should not be declared as their intentional failure and negligence of professional and statuary duty.

It was wanted to know in the rule why they should not be directed to take due legal steps against the participants, organisers and instigators of the gathering and why action should not be taken against those who misappropriated VGD rice meant for distressed and poor women.

The public administration, local government division, home, food and forest secretaries, IGP, director general of the Directorate General Food, deputy commissioner and police superintendent of Madaripur, and OC and SI Sadananda Baidya of the Rajoir police, among others, have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

Supreme Court lawyer Gazi Moshtaque Ahmed and M Ishtiaque Ahmed of South Keraniganj filed the writ.

Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore’s relatives live in Kadamtali union of Rajoir upazila in Madaripur.

The justice had earlier alleged that the administration did not take any step against Kadamtali union parishad chairman Bidhan Biswas although there were many allegations of irregularities and corruption against him. Later, several cases were filed against the UP chairman.

Following the filing of the cases, a human chain was formed in Rajoir demanding trial of the justice.

Meanwhile, a case was filed against the UP chairman with Shahbagh Police Station in the capital on Tuesday night under section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act for uploading derogatory remarks on Facebook about the justice.