SC defers hearing of five petitions for tomorrow

by Dharisha Bastians

The Supreme Court yesterday deferred hearing five petitions challenging the impeachment referred to it by the Court of Appeal until tomorrow (30) due to documentation issues.

The petitions were taken up for consideration yesterday by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Nimal Gamini Amaratunge, J. Sripavan and Priyasath Dep.

Meanwhile, legal representative for several petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Chrishmal Warnasuriya said that petitioners had reserved the right to file for an injunction against the Parliamentary Select Committee probing the impeachment after the committee continued with impeachment hearings after the Supreme Court recommended the proceedings be stayed until a constitutional interpretation was delivered.

Several writs of prohibition were filed in the Court of Appeal last week seeking to stay the hand of the Parliamentary Select Committee on grounds that it was unconstitutional and usurped the powers granted to the courts through the Constitution.  The Court of Appeal referred several petitions to the Supreme Court for interpretations of Article 107(2) and (3).

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane addressing a news conference yesterday said that if the Chief Justice was innocent, the select committee process would prove that.  

At the news conference Abeywardane also asserted Parliament’s supremacy over its affairs and lawmaking. “Parliament does not encroach into the court’s business either,” he said.