Speaker announces SC decision on Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill

Saturday, 15 February 2025 01:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SC determination states certain clauses in Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution, but can be passed with special majority
Parliament to debate Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill on Monday

The Speaker yesterday informed the Parliament that certain clauses in the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution and it can be only passed with a special majority.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announcing the determination of the Supreme Court to the House stated: “Two Judges constituting the majority of the bench had held that the Bill read as a whole and in particularly Clauses 2 and 3 is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and can be only passed with the special majority required under paragraph (2) of Article 84. The remaining Judge of the bench had held that the Bill as a whole or any provision thereof is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and may be enacted with a simple majority of Parliament.”

Following the announcement of the SC’s determination, Parliament will debate the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill on Monday (17).

The Bill titled ‘Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions)’ was challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121 (1) of the Constitution, which had been heard before a bench of three Judges.