SC to hear appeal on Warrant of Precedence again in Nov

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will once again hear an appeal regarding the state's warrant of precedence - the official ranking of important constitutional and government positions.

The bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed scheduled the next hearing for 4 November, following a review petition challenging an earlier verdict on the appeal today(28 August).

The issue dates back to 11 January 2015, when the Appellate Division revised the warrant of precedence, elevating constitutional post holders higher in the ranking. In that ruling, district judges were moved up eight steps, placing them equal to secretaries, while the Chief Justice's position was ranked equal to that of the Speaker of Parliament.

Following the publication of the full judgment, the then cabinet secretary and the Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman filed separate review petitions in 2017. Later, Deputy and Assistant Attorneys General also joined as parties in the review.

The review hearing formally began on 27 April this year, when the Judicial Service Association representing judges filed an urgent petition for speedy disposal of the matter. Barrister Nihad Kabir moved the application before the five-member bench headed by the chief justice. Deputy attorneys general also submitted petitions to include their positions in the order of precedence.