SC Secretariat in limbo as court, parliament diverge

The future of the Supreme Court Secretariat has become uncertain following the passage of the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill, 2026 in parliament, despite its inauguration on the apex court premises late last year.
Meanwhile, the High Court on Monday said it expected the government to maintain the existing infrastructure of the Secretariat until the matter was settled by the Appellate Division.
A bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar adjourned the hearing of a writ petition on establishing a separate judicial secretariat citing the pending 
appeal before the higher court.
The bench observed that as the issue was now sub judice before the Appellate Division, it would be inappropriate to proceed with the hearing at this stage.
Senior lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for the petitioners while Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the state.

Petitioners argued that a separate secretariat was essential to ensure full independence of the judiciary.
After the hearing, Shishir Manir said the state had informed the court of its intention to file an appeal soon. 
He then added that the court expected the existing Secretariat structures to remain intact out of respect for the apex court.
The attorney general said he would convey the court’s expectations but confirmed that the state would challenge the High Court verdict that directed the establishment of an independent Secretariat.
He also argued that proceeding with the current writ would not be appropriate while a related matter was being taken to the Appellate Division.
On 2 September last year, the High Court ordered the government to establish a separate Secretariat for the Supreme Court within three months, following a writ filed by seven lawyers. The full 185-page verdict was published on 7 April.
In compliance, the interim government promulgated the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025 on 30 November and the Secretariat was formally inaugurated on 11 December on the court premises.
However, amid opposition objections, parliament passed the repeal law on 9 April and scrapped the ordinance.
In response, the same group of lawyers filed another writ petition challenging the legality of the repeal law seeking a rule as to why it should not be declared unconstitutional. Two secretaries of the law ministry and the Cabinet Division secretary have been named as respondents.

Read More

Japan opens door to global arms market with overhaul of defence export rules

With legal challenges unfolding and the matter heading to the Appellate Division, the fate of the Secretariat now rests on the final judicial outcome.
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]