Constitution was violated, says GL Peiris

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had violated the Constitution by appointing Manjula Tilakaratne as its secretary, said External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris yesterday. Speaking in Parliament during an adjournment debate on the assault on Mr. Tilakaratne, the minister said that the Constitution had been violated by Mr. Tilakaratne’s appointment Candidates who were more qualified for the post had been overlooked

as 29 other more senior candidates who were more qualified for the post had been overlooked.

The minister tabled a list of judges who, he said, were qualified for the post..

He said Mr. Tilakaratne was only a district judge and that a senior judge had to be appointed to the post.

The minister said the JSC had no authority to send circulars pertaining to the independence of the judiciary. “This circular issued by the JSC is not a proper one,” he said “The JSC has done an injustice by going beyond its working parameters,” he said.

UNP MP Sujeewa Senasinghe who responded later said there was no clause in the Constitution which said that the most senior person on the list should be given the post. He said a senior person had to be appointed according to the Constitution but not necessarily the most senior, as

asserted by the minister.