by Chitra Weerarathne

A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, today, will take up the fundamental rights violation applications and the special leave to appeal application filed in respect of the former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake’s impeachment.

The fundamental rights violation applications have alleged that the Parliamentary Select Committee, appointed under standing order 78A, was illegal and hence that committee’s findings were bad in law.

The special leave to appeal application was against the quashing of the PSC order by the Court of Appeal, Consequent to an earlier Supreme Court order, which said that standing order was not a law under an Act of Parliament.

The bench will comprise Justices Shirani Tilakawardene, N. G. Amaratunga, Saleem Marsoof, K. Sripavan, P. A. Ratnayake, Chandra Ekanayake, Sathya Hettige, Priyasath Dep and Eva Wanasundera.

Among the petitioners who have complained of fundamental rights violations are the Center for Policy Alternatives and its Director P. Saravanamuttu, Athula Thenuwara, Janaka Adhikari and M. Jayasinghe. The special leave to appeal application was filed by Attorney-at-Law Hewage.

Among the respondents are the Speaker of Parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa and members of the Parliamentary Select Committee.

This is the first time in recent times that a full bench of the court is sitting together.

Since all the cases are falling under a single subject the full bench is expected to give a single judgment.COURTESY:THE ISLAND