The Supreme Court has rejected a request to have petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution heard before a full bench of the court.
The request was made by President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran on behalf of a petitioner when the cases were taken up before a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
Several other President’s Counsel appearing for petitioners, including Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda and Maithri Gunaratne, also supported the request.
Delivering the decision, the Chief Justice said the request was rejected and that the petitions would proceed before the existing five-member bench.
Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing for the Attorney General, argued that under Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the discretion to determine the composition and number of judges on a Supreme Court bench rests with the Chief Justice.
The petitions are being heard by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon and Gihan Kulatunga.
A total of 67 petitions have been filed challenging the 22nd Amendment Bill, while another five petitions have been filed challenging the Judicature Bill. (Newswire)