8. ¹[(1) The Rangamati, Khagrachory and Bandarban districts of the Chittagong Hill-Tracts shall constitute three separate sessions divisions and the concerned District Judge shall be the Sessions Judge of the respective sessions division and the Joint District Judge shall be the Assistant Sessions Judge.]

(2) ²[The] Sessions Judge ³[***] may take cognizance of any offence as a Court of original jurisdiction, without the accused being committed to him by a Magistrate for trial, and, when so taking cognizance, shall follow the procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, for the trial of cases by Magistrates.

⁴[(3) The Rangamati, Khagrachory and Bandarban districts of the Chittagong Hill-Tracts shall constitute three separate civil jurisdictions under three District Judges.

(4) The Joint District Judge as a court of original jurisdiction, shall try all civil cases in accordance with the existing laws, customs and usages of the districts concerned, except the cases arising out of the family laws and other customary laws of the tribes of the districts of Rangamati, Khagrachory and Bandarban respectively which shall be triable by the Mauza Headmen and Circle Chiefs.

(5) An appeal against the order, judgment and decree of the joint District Judge shall lie to the District Judge.]