Enjoining order preventing unconstitutional appointment of PPA office bearers of St. Bridget’s Convent

The District Court of Colombo extended the enjoining order preventing the unconstitutional adaptation of a proposed methodology of appointment of office bearers to the Past Pupils’ Association (PPA) of St. Bridget’s Convent.

A senior member of the Past Pupils’ Association of St. Bridget’s Convent filed action against its office bearer’s, Patroness and the Archdiocesan Director of Education on the 8th of June 2018 complaining to Court that certain proposed amendments to the Constitution of the PPA were being followed without being adopted in terms of the Constitution.

The said amendments included that the Principal of St. Bridget’s Convent would automatically take up the position of the President of the PPA which was a major change in comparison to the ordinary procedure of electing a duly qualified past pupil of the school. Further changes included the selection of Vice Presidents’ and Committee Members as opposed to such members being elected.

The Plaintiff’s complaint was that even if such changes were to be adopted, that it should be caused by a due amendment to the constitution of the PPA by its membership and not in an ad hoc manner.

On the 11th of June 2018, the District Court of Colombo issued an enjoining order preventing certain items in the proposed agenda for the Annual General Meeting taking place. The said enjoining order in effect resulted in the existing office bearers retaining their positions in the PPA. On the 25th of June the District Court of Colombo further extended the enjoining orders granted.

The Plaintiff was represented in Court by President’s Counsel Kuvera de Zoysa and Attorney-atlaw Ameer Mahuroof on the instructions of Attorney-atlaw Sanjay Fonseka.