Supreme Court has engaged in judicial cannibalism: President

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Parliament, June 18 (Daily Mirror) - While highlighting in Parliament today that the Supreme Court has engaged in judicial cannibalism with regard to its determination on the Gender Equality Bill, President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed appointing a select committee to look into the judgment.

“The Supreme Court has ignored a certain section which the Gender Equality Bill has addressed. It has eaten up all the judgments including one which had been given by a bench of ten judges with regard to women's rights. It has engaged in judicial cannibalism. The Court has also ignored an amendment to the penal code by the Chief Justice,” the President said.

“The determination also challenges the Priven Education Bill. I don’t propose to summon judges before Parliament, but I propose that we appoint a majority of members from the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to the select committee,” he added.

MP Wimal Weerawansa, who responded to the matter, said challenging the determinations of the Supreme Court is not a healthy move. 

“Why should we have a Supreme Court if we are going to challenge it every time,” he questioned.

“There is no issue in granting equal rights to women and upholding the rights of those whose gender is difficult to determine as a result of hormone disorders from which they suffer. However, we cannot endorse providing legal provisions to the mafia with regard to gender equality. Even children are given the choice to change their gender equality prevailing in Western countries, sexual organs are sold for USD 4,000 in those countries.  We should not allow that kind of development in this country,” he said.

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran proposed that it is better to refer the Bill to the Supreme Court for a redetermination. 

“It is better to refer the Bill for a re-determination rather than challenging the Supreme Court. It is not a healthy move to appoint select committees to look into each determination given by the Supreme Court,” the MP said.  

MPs Venerable Athureliye Rathana Thera and Dullas Alhaperuma also stated that a President challenging a cout judgment is not healthy.