Abolition of Supreme Court Secretariat is 'contempt of court': Shishir Manir

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir has termed the government's decision to abolish the Supreme Court Secretariat and withdraw its officials a " serious contempt of court".

Speaking to reporters in front of the Supreme Court today (20 May), he said the secretariat had been established following directives from the Supreme Court and that the matter remains under judicial consideration.

"Under these circumstances, abolishing the secretariat constitutes a serious contempt of court," he said, adding that lawyers would file a contempt petition against those concerned tomorrow (21 May).

Earlier, the government abolished the Supreme Court Secretariat and sent 15 officials, including its senior secretary, back to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. 

The Law and Justice Division of the ministry issued a gazette notification to this effect yesterday night (19 May) by order of the president.

According to the gazette notification, the members of the Bangladesh Judicial Service concerned were attached to the Law and Justice Division until further posting to suitable positions, in consultation with the Supreme Court.

The notification listed the names of the officials, their former designations in the abolished secretariat, and their newly attached positions.

A separate office order stated that the officials' joining dates at the ministry would be considered effective from 10 April.

Although the notification was issued on 19 May, it was made effective retrospectively from 10 April.

The move follows the repeal of the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance in the Jatiya Sangsad on 9 April.