Ministerial Consultative Committee approves Orders containing code of conduct for JPs

Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

Regulations for the Justice of the Peace (appointments, suspensions, cancellation and code of conduct) by the Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister under the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978 received the approval of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms.

The said approval was granted at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms held recently in Parliament Chaired by Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC.

The purpose of the said Orders is to promote moral and ethical conduct among justices of the peace to effectively administer justice and eliminate opportunities for corrupt practices. 

The Justice Minister pointed out that so far there was no mention of a specific method for appointing Justices of the Peace as well as their qualifications. In addition, Minister Rajapakshe, PC further pointed out that these orders have been issued due to the absence of a specific system to remove those persons from the position of Justice of the Peace in case of misuse of that position.

In addition, the Minister pointed out that a code of ethics has been introduced to be followed by Justices of the Peace in order to protect the dignity of this position and the trust of the people.

Apart from the said, the Civil Procedure Code, the Bill to be presented related to enforcement of the Rent Act and the Bill to be presented related to the protection of residents were also discussed at the Committee meeting held.

MPs Thalatha Athukorala, Rauff Hakeem, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Eran Wickramaratne, Muditha Prishanthi, Thavaraja Kalai Arasan and Manjula Dissanayake were present at the Committee meeting held on 18 June.