Midweek Politics: Will The Judiciary Make Its Stand?
By Dharisha Bastians -October 4, 2012
Dharisha Bastians
As hostilities between the Government and Judiciary rage on, the controversial Divi Neguma Bill may prove the tipping point
The battle between the Judiciary and the Government looks set to intensify with the Tamil National Alliance yesterday firing another salvo at the controversial Divi Neguma Bill proposed by the Government by seeking to prohibit the Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri from approving the bill in the absence of a provincial council in the North. The case filed by TNA General Secretary and Jaffna District MP Mavai Senathirajah seeks to prohibit the Governor from deciding on the Divi Neguma Bill and to make ineffective any decisions made by him in that regard.
The TNA MP is making the case that the Governor is not the competent authority to give an opinion about legislation proposed by the Central Government and cannot exercise the powers of a democratically elected body in the absence of a provincial council in the north, especially with regard to powers vested with that council.
The Court of Appeal hearing has been put off for today (4) to give the Governor’s lawyers time to respond.
The TNA filed its case shortly before the Government Information Department announced last evening that with North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provincial Councils voting in favour of the Divi Neguma Bill, all nine councils had extended their support for the proposed legislation. The Government Information Department is counting the Northern Province Governor’s nod as sanction of the bill.
How the Judiciary moves on the issue therefore, based on the TNA’s case, will make or break the Government’s hectic bid to have the controversial legislation enacted as soon as possible.
The Court of Appeal hearing has been put off for today (4) to give the Governor’s lawyers time to respond.
The TNA filed its case shortly before the Government Information Department announced last evening that with North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provincial Councils voting in favour of the Divi Neguma Bill, all nine councils had extended their support for the proposed legislation. The Government Information Department is counting the Northern Province Governor’s nod as sanction of the bill.
How the Judiciary moves on the issue therefore, based on the TNA’s case, will make or break the Government’s hectic bid to have the controversial legislation enacted as soon as possible.
