SC fix date to hear petition challenging appointment of Sri Lanka’s first female DIG

The Supreme Court has fixed the date to hear the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition seeking annulment of the promotion of Bimshani Jasin Arachchi, Sri Lanka’s first female Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The Court is to hear the petition on May 18.

A group of 32 Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) sought the court directive to declare that the promotion was made in contrary to the standard promotion process therefore it should be declared as illegal. Among the petitioners is the Head of Legal Division of police SSP Ruwan Gunasekera.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the National Police Commission, the Attorney General, and the recently appointed female DIG of Police Bimshani Jasin Arachchi have been named as respondents.

Counsel representing the DIG told the Court that he had not received all the documents referred by the petitioners.  The Court also directed the respondent to file objections to the injunction within three weeks from today.

The petition was taken up before a panel of judges comprising Justices Murdu Fernando, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli today.