SC concludes hearing of 22A Bill petitions
The Supreme Court yesterday concluded the hearing of the petitions filed challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill that certain clauses of it are unconstitutional and declared that it will promptly inform the Speaker of its final determination on the constitutionality of the 22nd Constitution Amendment Bill submitted for parliamentary approval.
The direction was given by the Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya after two days of consideration of ten petitions that had been filed challenging the 22nd Constitution Amendment Bill.
The petitions were taken up before a Supreme Court Three Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare and Arjuna Obeysekara.
When the petitions were taken up before the Supreme Court yesterday Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam who has been cited as the respondent in the petitions made lengthy submissions over the petitions.
Following that, the petitioners were ordered to file their written objections regarding the petitions today (24) and the Attorney General’s written objections was ordered to be filed tomorrow (25).
The petitions were filed by Attorney Nuwan Ballanthudawa, a member of the Central Board of the Patriotic National Front, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, Vinivida Foundation General Secretary Nagananda Kodithuwakku, Lt. Colonel A.S. Amarasekara, R.M.W.T.B Rathnayake, H.S Kumara, H.D.J. Kulathunga, S.M.K Devinda, D.B Dahanayake and Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera.
The petitions have cited the Attorney General as a Respondent.
The petitions say that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill was published in the Gazette on August 2.
The petitioners challenge that certain clauses of the 22nd Amendment Bill of the Constitution which has been submitted to Parliament on August 10 are unconstitutional.
In order for the Clauses included in this Bill to become a law, the petitions have requested that it be passed by the people at a referendum with a two-thirds majority in parliament.
The petitions have pointed out that the proposed provisions are not in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Therefore, the petitioners seek from Court to proceed on these petitions and express its opinion on the constitutionality of the clauses included in the relevant Bill.
Such a Bill should be challenged before Court within seven days after its inclusion in the parliamentary order paper. Accordingly these petitions have been filed.