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JSC challenges Justice Minister’s allegations against judiciary
View(s):By Ranjith Padamasiri
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has responded to allegations levelled by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe against the judiciary in Parliament.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Times he had received the JSC’s observations and they would be tabled in Parliament on July 9.
The JSA observations have been communicated in a letter signed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in his capacity as the President of the JSC and JSC members Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Gamini Amarasekara.
The Sunday Times learns that the JSC has disputed the minister’s allegations against the judiciary.
The documents tabled by the Justice Minister during his parliamentary speech have been forwarded by the Justice Ministry to the JSC.
The JSC has explained the action resorted to on issues raised by the Justice Minister.
The letter also responds to allegations against the JSC Secretary.
The allegations the Justice Minister made include obtaining electricity and water illegally from the court premises in Mt. Lavinia, the disappearance of bottles of liquor held as production at the Chief Magistrate Court in Colombo, the release of suspects held for narcotic offences at the Fort Magistrate Court, and altering the attendance machine.
A president’s counsel influence on the judiciary, the failure to address grievances of lower court judges, and the Secretary continuing in service for a nine-year period are also among the other allegations.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Service Association (JSA), representing the Magistrate and District Court Judges, is due to hold a special general meeting to discuss what they called ‘the negative impacts of malicious statements against judicial decisions or judges and issues related thereto’.The Colombo Law Society also issued a statement on Friday, condemning the statement made by Justice Minister Rajapakshe.
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