Court dismisses writ application against holding local elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 February 2006, 18:18 GMT]
The Court of Appeal Wednesday afternoon dismissed the second Writ application filed by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday afternoon against holding the local government elections. Mr.N.V.K.Weragoda, General Secretary of the UNP filed the second Writ of Prohibition seeking the Court of Appeal to prohibit the Commissioner of Elections from holding the local government elections until such time 2005 Voters Registers are prepared and published in terms of Local Authorities Election Ordinance. The petitioner cited the Commissioner of Elections as the respondent, legal sources said.

The first Writ application, which came up for inquiry Tuesday was withdrawn when the Appeal Court said it has no power to inquire into the suit that has not sought interim injunction on accepting nominations for the forthcoming local government election. The Court of Appeal gave time till Tuesday afternoon 4 p.m. to submit a fresh Writ application with required amendments, legal sources said.

The petitioner submitted the second Writ application as instructed by the Court of Appeal and that Writ was taken up for inquiry Wednesday afternoon before a two-member Bench comprising Justices K.Siripavan and Sisira de Abrew, legal sources said.

The second writ application was dismissed, as it had not cited the Minister of Local Government and District Returning Officers as respondents. However the court directed the petitioner to bring any objections to court before February 22 if he is not satisfied with its order, legal sources said.