INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Supreme Court on Friday (March 15) fixed a fundamental rights (FR) petition filed against the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon to
be taken up for consideration on April 02
The petition had been filed by Prof
Savitri Gunasekara earlier this month.When the petition was called before a 3-member Supreme Court judge bench led by Justice Preethi Padman
Surasena, the petitioning party was ordered to send notices to the respondents.Subsequently, the petition was fixed for consideration on
April 02.The petitioner has sought a Supreme Court ruling invalidating the appointment of the police chief.The Speaker of Parliament, the
members of the Constitutional Council (CC), IGP Tennakoon and several others have been named as the respondents of the petition.Speaker
appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon when the other members of the Constitutional Council were divided on a tie on the matter.It was
reported that four CC members had voted in favour of the appointment while 2 voted against and 2 others abstained
However, considering the 2 abstentions as votes cast against, the Speaker had used his vote as the deciding vote to go ahead with the
Alternatives, Niroshan Padukka of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) also put forward FR petitions, challenging the appointment of IGP
Tennakoon.The petitioners claim that Tennakoon had neglected his duties during his tenure as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police
site at the Galle Face Green where several protesters were brutally beaten.The petitioners have emphasized that the post of the police
chief, who is responsible for the implementation of the law in the country, should be given to an individual who has humane qualities, as
opposed to someone who acted contrary to his assigned duties and in violation of basic human rights.Against this backdrop, UN High
