STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus yesterday said the issue of establishing the Supreme Court Secretariat will ultimately be settled by the Appellate Division, as the government plans to appeal against the High Court verdict.

He noted that the High Court directive to establish the Secretariat will not take effect until the Appellate Division disposes of the appeal.

He made the remarks at a press briefing at his office on the Supreme Court premises yesterday afternoon.

Ruhul told reporters, “The issue of establishing a separate Supreme Court Secretariat is tied to the Supreme Court itself. We expect the apex court will hear and dispose of the appeal cautiously so that no question arises about its decision in the future.”

Following a writ petition, the High Court bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury delivered its verdict on September 2 last year, scrapping article 116 of the constitution, which had vested the powers of control and discipline of lower court judges in the president.

The bench directed the government to establish the Supreme Court Secretariat within three months and ruled that the Supreme Court, not the president, will have authority over the transfer, posting, and discipline of lower court judges.