The Supreme Court emphasized that its purpose is not to control the president or suspend the Constitution.
This announcement came while considering a request by Venerable Dambara Amila Thero and Professor Mahim Mendis to intervene in a petition that had been granted an interim injunction preventing the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court.
The request was considered by a bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Shiran Guneratne, and A.H.M.D. Nawaz.
The bench noted that the interim order was issued after a thorough consideration of the presented arguments.
The Supreme Court had previously issued an interim order on April 30, barring the President and the Constitutional Council from appointing judges to the Supreme Court, following a petition filed by a lawyer as a concerned citizen.
The petitioners stated today that no party has opposed the modification or removal of this order.
Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva, representing the Attorney General, stressed on the need for an expedited examination and resolution of the said petition.
After consideration, the bench decided that the petitions should be reviewed promptly and set the hearing for July 25.
The bench also directed both parties to file any objections, counter-objections, and written submissions regarding the petitions.
Meanwhile, the intervening parties pointed out that several parliamentarians have claimed that the interim order issued by the Supreme Court interferes with the executive's powers.
The petitions also stated that statements made in Parliament by Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Susil Premajayantha, and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara have severely criticized the judiciary and the Judicial Services Commission.
President's Counsels Upul Jayasuriya and Dilan Philip appeared for the petitioners, while President's Counsels M.A. Sumanthiran and K. Kanag-Isvaran represented the Constitutional Council.
(newsfirst.lk)
