Judges demand passage of SC secretariat ordinance

Judges have strongly demanded the passage of the “Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025” to ensure comprehensive reforms and full independence of the judiciary.

In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday (March 31), the organisation ‘Young Judges for Judicial Reform’ made the call.

The statement urged the government to convert the ordinance into law within 30 days of the first session of the 13th Parliament.

It also called for necessary constitutional amendments to ensure full judicial independence, in line with commitments made in political parties’ election manifestos and the consensus reflected in the July National Charter.

The organisation, comprising more than 850 assistant judges and senior assistant judges, said, “The outgoing interim government issued the ‘Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025’ on November 30, 2023, in light of the historic Masdar Hossain case verdict by the Appellate Division and in accordance with constitutional directives.

In that landmark 1999 judgment, the Supreme Court directed the effective separation of the judiciary from the executive branch. Although partial separation took place in 2007, control over subordinate courts effectively remained with the executive.

The ordinance marks the beginning of completing that unfinished process.”

It noted that the ruling party BNP, in its 31-point reform agenda, has clearly pledged to ensure effective judicial independence in line with the Masdar Hossain verdict, place control and disciplinary authority of subordinate courts under the Supreme Court, and establish a separate secretariat under its authority.

The statement added that the spirit of the July-August mass uprising was to ensure accountability and independence of all state institutions, and that all major political parties agreed on establishing an independent judiciary in the July National Charter.

According to the organisation, it is the constitutional and moral responsibility of the elected government to uphold this national consensus.

In this context, ‘Young Judges for Judicial Reform’ reiterated its demand for the ordinance to be passed into law within 30 days from the start of the first parliamentary session, and again called for constitutional amendments to ensure full judicial independence.

The statement further said that judicial independence is a constitutional right of the people and a cornerstone of the rule of law, expressing hope that the government will take necessary steps to pass the ordinance in Parliament to ensure genuine independence of the judiciary.