The High Court has issued a rule on the legality of a circular issued to reduce security of Supreme Court judges, attorney general, and related judicial personnel.
Simultaneously, the court stayed a provision in the circular concerning reduction of security for the above-mentioned individuals within judiciary. A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan issued the rule and order on Monday.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir argued on behalf of the petitioners during the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General Nur Muhammad Azami represented the state.
Manir said the court issued the rule asking why the circular issued on 27 August 2026 should not be declared without lawful authority and of no legal effect, and why its operation should not be stayed with directions to restore previous security arrangements.
Concurrently, the court directed the authorities to ensure the security of Supreme Court judges, the attorney general, and relevant judicial personnel as before.
Last Sunday, a writ petition was filed in the High Court Division challenging the validity of the circular reducing security for Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, and related judicial personnel.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir filed the writ on behalf of 10 lawyers and law students. The Home Affairs Ministry senior secretary has been named as a respondent in the petition, which sought the cancellation of the circular dated 27 August 2026.
The petitioners contended that the circular conflicts with the existing Warrant of Precedence and the Appellate Division judgment in the Bangladesh v Ataur Rahman and Others case.
Earlier, when a similar circular was issued on 2 March 2025, the High Court Division stayed its operation on 6 March of that year and directed that security for Supreme Court judges, the attorney general, additional attorney general, and relevant judicial officials be ensured.
Subsequently, that circular was cancelled on 9 March 2025.
The writ petition highlighted that issuing a new circular despite existing court directions has undermined the security and dignity of the judiciary.
It further stated that the move violated the independence of the judiciary, the separation of powers, and the basic structure of the Constitution.
The petition prayed for a stay on the circular’s operation, a declaration that it is without lawful authority and of no legal effect, and directions to restore previous security measures.
