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Published : 09 Jun 2026, 07:02 PM
Defence counsel Shishir Manir says the manner in which the BNP government has abolished the Supreme Court Secretariat, established during the tenure of the interim government, amounts to contempt of court.
He said the government's rushed decision to dismantle the secretariat and return officials to the law ministry -- before securing a stay order from the Appellate Division -- sent a negative message to the public over the administration's attitude towards the judiciary.
Following the hearing of a writ petition, a High Court bench had delivered a verdict on Sept 2, 2025, directing the establishment of an independent secretariat for the Supreme Court within three months.
On Tuesday, a four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury stayed that verdict and set Jun 16 for the hearing of the state’s appeal.
Manir spoke to journalists in front of the Supreme Court Annex Building following the order.
He said, “Despite such a direction from the High Court Division, the government abolished the Supreme Court Secretariat. The approach they adopted to dissolve it is tantamount to contempt of court.”
Noting that the government should not engage in such actions, Manir said: “Because that will create a negative example as it seems one can get away with not complying with a court verdict.”
The lawyer believes the government acted wrongly by abolishing the secretariat before the Appellate Division had stayed the ruling.
He said, “The government should have had the patience to see whether this stay petition would be granted by the Appellate Division.
A High Court bench rules that an independent secretariat for the Supreme Court must be established within three months on Sept 2, 2025.
The full 185-page text of the verdict was published on the Supreme Court website on Apr 7 that year.
The interim government approved steps to set up a separate secretariat on Nov 20, 2025.
The Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance 2025 was officially promulgated on Nov 30 that year.
Once this ordinance came into full effect, the Supreme Court Secretariat assumed responsibility for all matters concerning lower court judges, including transfers, promotions, disciplinary affairs, leave, and recruitment.
On Dec 11, the Supreme Court Secretariat officially commenced its operations in accordance with the ordinance.
The secretariat was inaugurated at the Supreme Court's Administrative Building-4 by the then Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
However, after the elected BNP government came to power, it decided to repeal the ordinances concerning judicial appointments and the secretariat.
On Apr 9, the Supreme Court Secretariat (Abolition) Act was passed in the parliament.
Consequently, all judicial appointments and administrative operations have reverted to the previous structure, returning under the jurisdiction of the law ministry.
