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counsel Mohammad Shishir Manir told reporters after the proceedings.

He said the attorney general acknowledged the court’s observation and told the bench he would convey it to the authorities.

Earlier on the day, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal told the court the state would move the Appellate Division against the HC judgment, arguing it would not be appropriate for the HC to proceed with the writ at this stage.

Before the hearing began around 2:40pm, an official concerned of the bench asked journalists to leave the courtroom, citing instructions from the SC administration.

Seven lawyers, including Advocate Mohammad Saddam Hossein, filed the writ as a public interest litigation on Sunday, seeking a directive to retain the SC’s independent secretariat.

The other petitioners include SC lawyers Md Mizanul Hoque, Abdullah Sadiq, Mohammad Abdul Wadud and Jaiad Bin Amjad, and lower court lawyers Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudul Hasan.

They also sought a status quo on the secretariat’s functions as initiated on December 11 last year.

The respondents include the cabinet secretary, secretary to parliament, the law secretary and others concerned.

In the petition, the lawyers argued that judicial independence – as guaranteed under Articles 94(4) and 116A of the constitution – is a basic pillar that cannot be curtailed.

They contended that the repeal law undermines the separation of powers and should be declared unconstitutional.

On April 9, parliament repealed three ordinances issued by the interim government, including those on the appointment of SC judges and the establishment of an independent secretariat.

Meanwhile, Badiul Alam Majumdar has filed an appeal with the Appellate Division seeking a stay on provisions of the SC Secretariat (Repeal) Act, 2026 that abolished the secretariat, its functions, including budget allocation and related posts.