AG files motion seeking early date

Gazette on delimitation

The Attorney General yesterday filed a motion in the Court of Appeal seeking to take up on November 30, the writ petition challenging the gazette notification dated February 17, 2017 on delimitation of wards and the number of members of Local Authorities.

The Court of Appeal on November 22 issued an interim order staying the operation of the said Gazette notification and also issued notices on the Minister and the Ministry Secretary returnable for December 4.

AG files motion seeking early date

He requested Court to vacate the interim order and dismiss the petition on the basis that the petitioners had no standing and necessary parties such as the Elections Commissioner was not made a party and was out of its jurisdiction while the Elections Commissioner had already called elections to 93 of the 133 local government bodies.

Only the remaining 40 are in dispute and if the election was not held to these LG bodies, the people would be denied of their franchise.

The Court of Appeal on November 22 issued an interim order staying the operation of the said Gazette notification and also issued notices on the Minister and the Ministry Secretary returnable for December 4.

The Bench comprised Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (President/ CA), Kumudini Wickramasinghe and A.l.s.gooneratne.