63 Tax officers promoted as Assessors via FR case in SC

By S.S.Selvanayagam

Sequent to a rights petition to the Supreme Court, 63 Tax Officers of the Inland Revenue Department have been promoted to Posts of Assessors.

When the fundamental rights petitions filed by the aggrieved Tax Officers came up before the Supreme Court, the Attorney General informed Court that the Public Service Commission (PSC) had approved the promotion of 63 Tax Officers to the Posts of Assessors in the Inland Revenue Department.

The Bench comprised Justices N.G.Amaratunga, P.A.Ratnayake and Chandra Ekanayake. Sanjeeva Jayawardena with Rajeev Amarasuriya instructed by G.G.Arulpragasam appeared for 52 aggrieved petitioners. Senior State Counsel Viveka Siriwardana de Silva appeared for the respondents.

           Senior State Counsel appearing for the respondents informed Court the PSC had approved the settlement suggested by the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury to promote the petitioners who have received 43 marks and above to the Post of Assessor with effect from 17 January next year without back wages and other allowances.

As a result of fixing the cutoff point 43 marks, 63 officers have benefited from the decision of the PSC.

Seven petitioners who received less than 43 marks are not eligible to be promoted in terms of the decision of the PSC. They will proceed with the fundamental rights petition in respect of their claim for relief.

The Commissioner General of Inland Revenue, its Commissioner for Human Resources, Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B.Jayasundera, Director General of the Department of Management Services (Ministry of Finance & Planning), the members of the PSC, The Attorney General and others were cited as respondents.

The petitioners who are to receive promotions are:

(1) Mrs.M.M.Corera; (2) J.S.de S.Wijerakshitha; (3) H.P.K.I.Caldera; (4) H.P.J.B.Ranasinghe; (5) M.A.L.Abeywickrema; (6) W.Anil; (7) K.K.Premasiri; (8) P.K.P.Jayathilaka; (9) E.K.Ediritilaka; (10) W.H.Jayatilake; (11) W.V.P.Jayawardene; (12) B.M.T.I.G.Balasooriya; (13) G.A.D.Dayananda; (14) R.U.J.Kumara; (15) P.D.Premathilaka; (16) A.P.Amarasinghe; (17) M.W.S.Pemasiri;(18) H.M.Pemadasa; (19) K.P.G.Gunadasa; (20) C.Gunasekara; (21) V.Mahendanathan; (22) W.Sunanda; (23) B.D.J.Karunathilaka; (24) Mrs W.Selvarajah; (25) Mrs N.Baskaran; (26) D.A.de Zoysa; (27) W.A.P.K.Wijesinghe; (28) S.K.J.Jayawardena; (29) D.M.S.Kingston; (30) P.M.Ubeywarna; (31) P.D.R.D.Peramuna; (32) J.Wijepala; (33) W.M.Chandrajith; (34) J.A.Hallaluwa; (35) S.S.Kodituwakku; (36) A.M.C.K.A.Menike; (37) W.D.R.K.Perera; (38) W.M.S.S.Walisundara; (39) R.M.G.Ratnayake; (40) N.P.Senadhira; (41) A.P.R.Amarasinghe; (42) W.P.P.Weerasingha; (43) L.P.Thilakarathna; (44) H.C.Rathnayake; and (45) K.J.R.Perera