SJB MP Ajith Perera today (4) called on the Chief Justice to appoint a full 11-member Supreme Court bench to hear any legal challenge against the proposed Bill to increase the retirement age of judges.
Speaking in Parliament, Perera argued that the proposed amendment could not be enacted solely with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and would also require approval at a referendum.
He said constitutional provisions relating to judicial independence, including Articles 107 and 108, must be read together with Chapter III of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental rights.
Perera maintained that any amendment affecting those provisions would require both a two-thirds parliamentary majority and the approval of the people at a referendum.
The MP further contended that the proposed legislation would directly affect Supreme Court judges and grant them benefits, making it necessary for all 11 judges of the court to hear the matter if it is referred for constitutional review.
“We expect the Chief Justice to ensure fairness by appointing a full bench of all 11 judges to hear the case, rather than selecting a panel of three or five judges,” Perera told Parliament. (Newswire)