Legal challenges mount for new CJ

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Fresh legal challenges mounted for the new Chief Justice appointment, with the Opposition lodging a complaint at the Bribery Commission and the Centre for Policy Alternatives filing a fundamental rights application seeking to restrain the Parliamentary Council from ratifying the appointment of Mohan Peiris as Chief Justice.

The CPA petition cites the fact that there was no legal vacancy for the position of Chief Justice since the Higher Courts had ruled that the impeachment process against her had no basis in law.

Meanwhile, the JVP filed an official complaint at the Bribery Commission against the new Chief Justice appointee, for alleged fraud during his tenure as Attorney General, with regard to a case pertaining to a porcelain company.

In the CPA plaint, the Petitioners also urged the Court to grant a Stay Order preventing Pieris from accepting the position of, acting as or exercising the functions of the Chief Justice unless and until a valid vacancy is created for the position.However all cases listed were postponed at the Supreme Court yesterday and the petition could not be supported.