IGP’s FR petition fixed for support on 9 Sept.

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Inspector General of Police (IGP’s) Pujith Jayasundara seeking to overturn his compulsory leave has been fixed for support on 9 September. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court consisting of Justices Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairajah and Yasantha Kodagoda took up the petition yesterday.

IGP Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave by former President Maithripala Sirisena after the Easter Sunday attacks last year. He subsequently filed an FR petition with the Supreme Court, citing the former President, former Speaker of Parliament, members of the Constitutional Council, the Attorney General and several others as its respondents.

The IGP contends he was sent on compulsory leave in the backdrop of Easter Sunday attacks as per the orders of then-President Maithripala Sirisena, however, this has violated his fundamental rights since the President is not is the disciplinary authority.

He argued that the decision to send him on compulsory leave is completely against the law as the President is not vested with such powers. The IGP, accordingly, sought the Supreme Court to hear the petition and to deliver an interim order to void the decision to send him on compulsory leave until the hearing concludes.