Police challenges Human Rights Commission’s decision over HNDA students in court

Saturday, 9 January 2016 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka police has decided to appeal the recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on the Police assault on Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) students.

The Police Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the recommendations made by the HRCSL, which initiated an immediate investigation into the 29 October  incident.

The HRCSL has decided that the police acted in violation of the students’ rights granted under the Constitution and recommended the police to pay compensation to the injured students.

Accordingly, the HRSCL said the police should pay Rs. 25,000 to Sashini Sandeepani Kumarasinha, who was injured and hospitalised, while, Rs.15000 was recommended to the eight other students who were also injured.

The petition filed by the Superintendent of Police Pradeep Panamaldeniya attached to the Police Headquarters has named Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, its Chairman and members of the Commission as respondents.

The petitioner who maintained that the police did not misuse their powers to disperse the protestors,  sought an order to quash the recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission.

The Commission also recommended that the officers who acted in a manner that violated the rights of the students be identified, and that disciplinary action be taken against them.

The petitioner however, pointed out that the police were compelled to take necessary arrangements taking into consideration the gravity of the unruly behavior of the protesters.

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