SC orders Rs. 0.3 million be paid to Principal over unfair transfer

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the former Chief Minister of the North Central Province pay Rs. 250,000 as compensation to the principal of a school and Rs. 50,000 to the State.

The bench comprised justices Buwaneka Aluvihara, Nalin Perera and Lalith Dehideniya.

Petitioner R.P. Karunaratne Bandara, who is the aggrieved principal who filed his fundamental rights petition on his allegedly unfair transfer to another school over a foundation stone-laying ceremony.

He cited North Central Province Governor P.B. Dissanayake, former North Central Province Chief Minister Peshala Jayaratne and others as respondents.

The Petitioner in his petition challenged the decision of the former Chief Minister to transfer him and complained that he had been unfairly transferred from Halmillewe Dutugemunu Maha Vidyalaya to Niwaththaka Chethiya Maha Vidyalaya.