Litigation piles up: SC grants leave to proceed in Bar Association FR case

The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed in the fundamental rights petition filed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, challenging the impeachment against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Nimal Gamini Amaratunge, Priyasath Dep and Eva Wanasundera granted the petitioners leave to proceed with the case in respect of Article 12 (1) of the Constitution that guarantees all persons are equal under the law and entitled to equal protection under of the law.

The BASL last week filed the FR petition on the basis that the impeachment of the Chief Justice was a violation of their fundamental rights because it was unconstitutional and may have an impact on judicial decisions on the Government and the entire judicial system. The case was filed by BASL President Wijedasa Rajapakse MP and three others.

Ikram Mohamed PC appeared as counsel for the petitioners. The petitioners requested that an order be issued directing that Standing Order 78A of the Parliament was unconstitutional.

The three judge Supreme Court bench directed Respondents in the petition to file objections within four weeks and provided petitioners a time frame of two weeks after that to file counter objections. Counsel for the petitioners reserved the right to seek interim relief.

The case will be taken up for hearing on 21 January 2013. (DB)