‘Judges’ joint statement ‘work of CJ’s confidantes’ -All Island Clergy Organisation tells CJ: Step down until cleared – Should respect high office held:
Posted on December 5th, 2012
Dharma Sri Abeyratne- Courtesy The Daily News
The All Island Clergy Organisation yesterday requested Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake, who is facing serious integrity charges before a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), to refrain from performing her official duties until the completion of the probe into the charges leveled against her through an impeachment motion.
An impeachment motion containing 14 serious charges has been forwarded to Parliament and is being probed by the PSC.
The Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary should function in harmony without an unnecessary power struggle to create a law abiding society, Sabaragamuwa University Vice Chancellor and All Island Clergy Organisation chairman Professor Venerable Kumburugamuwa Vajira Thera said.
Ven Kumburugamuwa Vajira Thera addressing a media conference in Colombo yesterday said the Chief Justice has to act in a most responsible manner without tarnishing the highest office she holds in the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Supreme Court and to uphold the good image of the Judiciary.
The All Island Clergy Organisation requests the Chief Justice to avoid taking part in activities of the Judiciary until the completion of the PSC process since this represents the power of the people vested in them by the legislature, the thera said. All Island Clergy Organisation Secretary Ven Vatinapaha Somananda Thera and other members said the Chief Justice has to abide by democratic norms. The Daily News too wishes the great artiste good health and long life
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”JudgesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ joint statement ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”work of CJƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s confidantesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
A joint statement issued by the JudgesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Union after their meeting with the Chief Justice did not contain the general opinion of the entire judgesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ community, according to reliable Judicial sources.
Some judges who attended the meeting said the so-called joint statement issued after their meeting with the Chief Justice contained the opinion of a small minority of judges who represented the
Chief Justice and as such it had been drawn up according to a pre-arranged plan.
The Chief Justice acting against customary Judicial procedure, summoned a meeting of all magistrates and judges of the District and High Courts at short notice on December 3 and expressed her views on the impeachment motion against her. The opinion of a majority of magistrates and judges who attended the meeting had been that the Chief Justice should face the impeachment according to the constitution.
They emphasised that it was morally wrong on their part to exert pressure on the impeachment process taking place according to the constitutional and legal process. Another section of the judges expressed the view that it would be prudent to stop this activity by informing the President.
After the judges who expressed these sentiments left the meeting, another section who remained had issued this joint statement to the media.
CJ’s actions, a cause for shame
Ven Kumburugamuwa Vajira Thera said hitherto no protests, political rallies or picketing campaigns had been held within the court premises.
Disregarding this culture, picketing campaigns, slogan shouting, protests and gatherings in the nature of political rallies were held within the Supreme Court premises. “No one has the right to conduct such activities within the court premises destroying the regard and esteem of the court of law,” he said.
“The Chief Justice’s action is a cause for shame and not suitable considering the supreme post she holds at the acme of the Judicial system. Without rousing the masses, she has a duty to answer the charges against her through the PSC procedure. Everyone is duty bound to safeguard law and order and peace in the country,” Ven Vajira Thera said.
The Chief Justice requested the public not to create issues related to the impeachment. If she is innocent of these allegations, she first has to go before the PSC without inciting the public, he said
December 5th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
The CJ whether innocent or guilty of these charges, must respect the law of the land and allow this constitutionally valid impeachment process to go through to clear her name. What is sad is that she is behaving in a manner unbecoming of a respected judge, when she campaigns for support from all and sundry to pressure the Govt to withdraw this investigation. At present she is getting support from the usual forces from within and outside the country, hostile to the nation as well as well meaning persons ignorant of the seriousness of the allegations. The sudden summoning of Judges and magistrates to a meeting, inconveniencing the public, is akin to a political act and it gives the impression, as if the CJ has something very serious to hide and is desperate to stop this investigation. All this could be due to her lack of experience as a judge when she was appointed as a supreme court judge. However, when we read all the articles detrimental to her reputation, it is most alarming and needs an early resolution.
December 6th, 2012 at 4:44 am
A. Sooriarachi
CJ must respect the law of the land ! Aggred
but I am sure she does not need to respect Rajapaksa Family law !!!
due to her lack of experience – fully aggred she become CJ with out knwing which law is applicable in our mother lanka at present !
Dear lady go home come back 12 years later !!!
December 6th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
This woman does not need to be respected as she has MISBEHAVED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS IN AN ARROGANT WAY TOTALLY DISREGARDING THE LEGISLATURE.
JR should havebeenin power in a moment like this,Had JR been in power by now SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN STONED TO DEATH!!!
Her ILLETERATE BEHAVIOUR DISREGARDING ALL NORMS displays that she is worse than a PXXXXXXXXE.
December 7th, 2012 at 7:33 am
jay-ran
This woman – not borned yesterday she is head of Judges of SL !
SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN STONED TO DEATH!!!- Wait & see she will be hanged to dead soon by our Maha Raja !