The Advisory Council has given in-principle approval to the draft Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025, aimed at ensuring full separation of the judiciary from the executive branch.
Once enacted, the ordinance will vest all authority over the transfer, posting, promotion, and discipline of lower court judges in the Supreme Court. It will also provide the SC with financial independence, including control over its budget, property, and staffing.
The draft ordinance will be presented again to the council for final approval.
The approval came at today's weekly meeting of the council at the Chief Adviser's Office, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Later, at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul briefed reporters on the ordinance.
"We have been discussing the separation of the judiciary for about 25 to 30 years. Around 2006 there was a good attempt, but it was not possible to make the law," he said.
"The establishment of a Supreme Court Secretariat has been mentioned in the reports of the National Consensus Commission, the Judicial Reform Commission, and in the chief justice's reform roadmap.
"We have given in-principle approval to this ordinance. When it gets final approval, all matters related to subordinate court judges -- including transfer, posting, promotion, and discipline -- will come under the SC's control. The SC will have its own budget management, property, development sector, creation of posts, and financial independence," he added.