Five-judge bench to hear NPP petition against postponement of LG polls

A fundamental rights petition filed by the National People’s Power (NPP) party against the postponement of the Local Government election will be taken up before a five-judge bench on 3 May. 

The petition filed by NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and former MP Sunil Handunetti on 14 March before the Supreme Court claims that deferring the Local Government election, which was initially scheduled to be held on 9 March, has violated the fundamental rights of the people. Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala representing the petitioners said the decision to hear the petition before a full bench of the Supreme Court on 3 May was informed by the courts yesterday. 

When the petition was taken up on 3 April before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Senior Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana appearing on behalf of the Attorney General requested the courts for the petition to be presented before a five-judge bench. While the court said the request will be considered and the decision informed later, Watagala said accordingly the decision to hear the case before a full bench has now been informed to the relevant parties. 

A total of 35 state officials including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the members of the Cabinet, the Secretary to the Minister of Finance, the Government Printer, the Inspector General of Police, the Chairman and members of the Election Commission and the Attorney General have been named as the respondents of the petition.