SC to consider IGP Pujith's FR on November 13

The Supreme Court today set November 13 as the date on which to consider the Fundamental Rights petition filed by Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundera requesting the court to issue an interim injunction order against the decision by the President to send him on compulsory leave.

While this petition was taken up before a three-judge bench headed by Supreme Courte justice Prasanna Jayawardene, the parties, in this case, agreed to have the IGP’s petition to be taken up on a later date since the FR petitions filed over the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks are to be taken up for hearing on Sept 25 and Sept 26. 

Accordingly, the Supreme Court ordered that the case be taken up on November 13.

The fourth respondent to this petition, the secretary to the President filed objections against this petition by way of an affidavit.

The IGP in his petition named Deputy IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, the President’s secretary, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and the members of the constitutional council as respondents.

Further the petition state that the IGP had not been invited to the national security council meetings after October 2018. In addition, the petition stated the President’s decision to send the IGP on compulsory leave violated his fundamental rights of equal treatment as stated in the Constitution.