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Will polls chief go to Geneva now?
As the country waits in suspense amidst political turmoil for the polls chief to announce the long-awaited date of nominations for the presidential elections, the Commissioner himself is reported to be considering further legal steps.
Last week Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake went to the Supreme Court claiming there was an error in the judgment of August 25 and seeking clarification that there was no finding of fundamental rights violations on his part.

The Supreme Court on August 25 had ruled in favour of a fundamental rights petition filed by JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera regarding the date of the presidential election. The commissioner in his motion to the Supreme Court said the judgment might amount to a finding against him and sought a clarification on him.

But Chief Justice Sarath N Silva said on Monday there was no error in the judgment and no clarification was necessary as there was no finding against the Commissioner of Elections.

However, Mr. Dissanayake’s lawyer Elmore Perera said yesterday the Commissioner could be cited for violation of Human Rights as long as the Supreme Court judgment remained the same. He said he would be holding further consultations with Mr. Dissanayake today.

Mr. Perera told The Sunday Times that the Commissioner could consider whether he should take the matter now to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Committee for a determination, but it was a personal decision the Commissioner would have to take.

Under the law, the Commissioner has to call for nominations before October 25, and hold the presidential elections before November 22.

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