SC names five-member bench to hear FR petitions against elections date

The Supreme Court yesterday appointed a five-member Bench to hear several Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the date set by the Elections Commission to hold the General Election 2020.

Accordingly, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya will serve as the Chairman of the Bench, while Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijith Malalgoda make up the remaining slots of the Bench.

Seven parties, including Attorney-at-Law Charitha Gunaratne, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), journalist Victor Ivan, and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party, filed Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the election date set by the Elections Commission.

The Attorney General, on behalf of the President, Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, and Members of the Commission N. J. Abeysekara and Ratnajeevan Hoole have been named as Respondents of the petitions. The Supreme Court has decided to support the petitions on 18 May. Earlier, the Election Commission had declared 20 June to hold the Parliamentary Election, which was earlier scheduled for 25 April. The Petitioners have noted that the environment is not conducive to hold the election, as the coronavirus pandemic is still not under control.

On 11 May, Attorney General Dappula de Livera informed the Supreme Court that he is not in a position to appear for the Election Commission and its members in the case challenging the date of the Parliamentary Election this year.