ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday February 24, 2008
Vol. 42 - No 39
News  

Demolition of stalls unlawful, says sweep ticket agent

By Teles Anandappa

A lotteries ticket sub agent has filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court against the Inspector General of Police for unlawful demolition and destruction of his stalls. The petitioner, 43 year old Werahera Arachige Palitha of Ragama cited IGP Victor Perera, Pettah Police Station OIC and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioner said that he was a sub agent for the National Lotteries Board since 1988 and he had two counters on either side of Mahawatte Road, Colombo 11. He said that since the day he had been an agent he had not made any payment as rental to the Colombo Municipal Council nor had any payment been demanded. He also said that he had been using a 5 watt loud speaker and a 4 volt battery to advertise his sale of the lottery tickets.

The petitioner said that the police had come one day and demolished his two stalls without any prior warning and taken away his loudspeaker and battery under the direction issued by the 1st respondent. The petitioner pleads that the said instruction/direction given by the 1st respondent was not based on or did not reflect the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court and was ultra vires the power vested by law in the 1st respondent and was null and void and of no force and effect in law.

He said the police have acted against the order by dismantling and demolishing the stalls. The police officers had purportedly carried out the first respondent’s order. The petitioner said that his fundamental rights were violated and requested leave be granted to proceed.

 
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