IGP issued notice in contempt case

28 January 2011 09:45 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 20 Bookmark

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The Supreme Court today directed the Registrar of the Court to issue notice to the Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasooriya to be present in Court on February 11 pursuant to the action filed by aggrieved Superintendent of Police J.R.Jayawardena against the IGP for the alleged contempt of court.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices N.G.Amaratunga and K.Sripavan made this order.

SP Jayawardena complained he had earlier been placed on compulsory leave and later restored in the service on the stay order issued by the Court, and is now being interdicted with immediate effect in a nature severe than before, allegedly to the same charges.

Saliya Peiris instructed by Gowry Shangary Thavarasha appeared for the aggrieved petitioner Jayawardena.

SP Jayawardena in his fundamental rights violation petition had alleged that he had been placed under compulsory leave on the allegation of bias as he was successful in ensuring free and fair elections at the last Presidential election.

The Court, on May 25 last year, granted leave to proceed with his petition challenging the purported order of the Defence Secretary to place him under compulsory leave with immediate effect for the alleged infringement of his fundamental right to equality and equal protection of the law.

The Court also granted interim relief suspending the operation of the decision to place him on compulsory leave until the final disposal of the said application.

He also alleged the IGP acted in disregard of the said interim order of the Court and complained to the Court that the IGP was in disregard and lower the authority of the Supreme Court and had thereby been brought to the Supreme Court into contempt. (S.S.Selvanayagam)