The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing for Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police (IGP) on February 24th and 25th, 2025.
These petitions, filed by eight parties including His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Young Journalists Association, were considered today before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Arjuna Obeysekara.
During today’s session, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, representing the Attorney General, presented facts to the court and requested additional time to submit objections on behalf of the President, who is a respondent in the case. The bench accepted the request and granted the Attorney General time to file the necessary objections.
Meanwhile, Tennakoon’s legal team submitted a motion requesting that the petitions be heard before a full bench of judges, while the petitioners filed a counter-motion. The bench noted that the motions would be referred to the Chief Justice for a decision.
The petitions argue that the appointment of Tennakoon as IGP lacks a formal recommendation from the Constitutional Council, claiming that this omission violates the Constitution and thereby infringes upon the petitioners’ fundamental rights. Consequently, the petitions seek an order to annul Tennakoon’s appointment as IGP.
Last July, the Supreme Court granted permission to proceed with these petitions and issued an interim injunction preventing Tennakoon from performing the duties of IGP pending the outcome of the case.
