Supreme Court ruling on PSC expected today

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Supreme Court determination on several cases pending before it pertaining to the constitutionality of the Parliamentary Select Committee probing the impeachment and the legality of Standing Order 78A is expected today.

Several petitioners, including corporate good governance activist Chandra Jayaratne and senior lawyer Jayampathy Wickremaratne, PC, have challenged the legality of impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

The writ applications were referred to the Supreme Court by the Court of Appeal for interpretations of Article 107 (3) pertaining to the removal of judges.

Petitioners have argued that the article violates Article 4 (c) of the constitution that vests judicial power in the courts of law.

Last week the Supreme Court asked petitioners to make submissions before 18 December and said that the court’s ruling would be delivered to the Court of Appeal soon.

The petitions were heard by a three judge bench of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and comprising Justice K. Sri Pavan and Justice Priyasath Dep.

(DB)