The interim government on Sunday issued a gazette promulgating an ordinance to establish an independent Supreme Court Secretariat, a long-awaited reform aimed at strengthening judicial autonomy.
The ordinance states that staffing for the new secretariat will be set by rules. Until those rules are framed, the chief justice may appoint staff from the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission or subordinate courts.
The new SC Secretariat will function under the chief justice, with its secretary serving as the administrative head.
According to the ordinance, the government, in consultation with the Supreme Court, must issue a gazette notification to formally establish the SC Secretariat and begin its operations.
Under the reform, the law ministry, in consultation with the Supreme Court, will oversee disciplinary issues involving judicial officers deputed to government ministries.
The Supreme Court Secretariat will handle discipline for its own staff and judicial officers under its authority.
A Supreme Court Secretariat Commission will be created, headed by the chief justice. Its members will include the law minister or adviser, an Appellate Division judge nominated by the chief justice, the National Human Rights Commission chairman and the attorney general.
The commission will guide the development of judicial administration and issue policy directives.
The ordinance also forms a seven-member committee, led by an Appellate Division judge, to create and approve new posts in the organogram.
The panel will include two High Court judges, the SC secretariat secretary, and the secretaries of law, public administration and finance. The chief justice will nominate the three judges.
Budget allocations for the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Secretariat will now be made separately under the national budget, a key step towards financial independence.
The chief justice will have the authority to approve projects worth up to Tk 50 crore.
For projects above that threshold, a seven-member committee must forward proposals to the planning ministry for approval.
A new committee under the Supreme Court Secretariat will prepare all development projects.
