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The High Court has suspended the effectiveness of a government circular that reduced security arrangements for Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General and officials associated with the judiciary.
The court also issued a rule asking why the circular should not be declared illegal and scrapped.
A High Court bench led by Justice JBM Hasan passed the order on Monday, September 14, following a writ petition challenging the circular.
Senior lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the petitioners during the hearing.
The writ petition was filed on September 13 seeking cancellation of the circular issued on August 27, 2026, which reduced the security provided to senior officials of the judiciary.
Shishir Monir, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition on behalf of 10 lawyers. The Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs was named as the respondent.
The petitioners are Advocates Mohammad Saddam Hossain, Abdullah Sadik, Md Mizanul Haque, Zayed Bin Amzad, Mohammad Shaneawaz, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudul Hasan; Dhaka University law student Shamim Shahidi; and Md Rafiul Sabbir and Habibur Rahman Al Hasan.
The petition sought cancellation of the circular bearing memorandum number 44.00.0000.044.01.014.2025-361, issued on August 27.
The petitioners argued that the circular was inconsistent with the existing Warrant of Precedence and a judgment delivered by the Appellate Division in the case of Bangladesh vs Ataur Rahman and Others.
They also referred to a similar circular issued on March 2, 2025. The High Court had suspended its operation on March 6, 2025, through a suo motu rule and directed the authorities to ensure security for Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, Additional Attorneys General and relevant officials of the judiciary.
The earlier circular was subsequently withdrawn on March 9, 2025.
The petitioners alleged that despite the previous court order, the authorities had issued the new circular reducing security arrangements for senior judicial officials.
According to the petition, the move could undermine the security and dignity of the judiciary and violate judicial independence, the separation of powers and the basic structure of the Constitution.
The petitioners therefore sought suspension of the circular and a declaration that it had been issued without lawful authority and had no legal effect. They also sought directions for restoration of the previous security arrangements.