15 judges, judicial officers recalled to law ministry after Supreme Court secretariat scrapped

These officials will now be assigned to other positions

The government has recalled 15 judicial service officers and judges, who were previously assigned to the now-abolished Supreme Court secretariat, back to the Law and Justice Division.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification on Tuesday attaching the officials, including nine district and sessions judges, two additional district and sessions judges, three joint district judges, and one senior assistant district judge, to the ministry.

The move follows the newly elected BNP-led government's decision to repeal the ordinance that established the Supreme Court Secretariat during the tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

With parliament passing the repeal bill, the separate secretariat has formally ceased operations, returning judicial appointments and administrative functions back to the law ministry's control.

The secretariat had been established on Nov 30, 2025, under the “Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025” by the interim government, following the longstanding directives of the landmark Masdar Hossain case.

It was formally inaugurated on Dec 11 by former chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed to oversee the transfers, promotions, and discipline of lower court judges.

The BNP administration scrapped the initiative, passing the “Supreme Court Secretariat Abolition Bill, 2026” in parliament.

During its passage, opposition lawmakers objected to the bill, labelling it an "interference in the independence of the judiciary".

Defending the move, the law minister clarified in parliament that while courts can provide opinions on legal matters, the ultimate authority to legislate rests solely with the parliament.