SC rejects intl. petitions against impeachment of former CJ
Thursday, 24 October 2013 00:41
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The Supreme Court yesterday rejected two international petitions that sought to intervene in the impeachment of the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
The petitions were filed by the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales.
The petitioners sought to intervene in the special appeal of the Attorney General against the Court of Appeal injunction on the decision made by the Parliament Select Committee over the impeachment of the former Chief Justice.
Earlier this year, the Appellate Court issued an injunction on the decision made by the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) that heard the impeachment against the former Chief Justice. The Court ruled that PSC has no legal right to take action against the Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court rejected the two petitions, citing that the two parties had no opportunity to mediate in the issue.
The case was heard by a five-member bench of Supreme Court comprising Justices Saleem Marsoof, Chandra Ekanayake, Sathya Hettige, Eva Wanasundera and Rohini Marasinghe.
Attorney General Palitha Fernando appeared for the amicus appellant, while Dr. Sunil Cooray appeared for those seeking intervention. M.A. Sumanthiran, J.C. Weliamuna and a host of the other lawyers appeared for the respondents.
