In a statement, Haniff said Justice Amarjeet Singh ordered his judicial review application to be heard inter partes, and fixed the matter for case management on Feb 6.

Haniff also secured an interim stay of the ban pending the hearing of his application to bar the health ministry from enforcing it at his Kota Damansara law office while the judicial review proceedings are ongoing.

The stay order is valid until Feb 27, when the stay application will be heard on its merits.

Federal counsel Sallehuddin Ali appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

On Dec 31, Haniff filed an application for leave to commence a judicial review against the health minister and the government to challenge the smoking ban in private offices.

He contends that the smoking ban under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 is unconstitutional, and wants the High Court to quash the order.

He also wants the court to compel Putrajaya to exempt his Kota Damansara law firm from the ban as he is a heavy smoker. Haniff said his office had long notified employees and clients of his smoking habit.