Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, introduced in Parliament yesterday (18) as part of the Government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges.
The 14-day period for filing petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment and the proposed amendments to the Judicature Act began yesterday (18), following the presentation of the Bills in Parliament.
Within a few hours of the Bill being included in the parliamentary Order Paper, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the 22nd Amendment.
Other parties that filed petitions yesterday include President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, Chairman of the Independent Lawyers’ Association, Sarvajana Balaya, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and former Minister Professor G. L. Peiris.
The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in these petitions.
The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to determine that the proposed 22nd Amendment is inconsistent with the Constitution and that its enactment requires not only a special two-thirds majority in Parliament but also approval at a referendum.
