By The Pulseline News Desk
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has rejected suggestions of government involvement in the transfer of judicial officers, disciplinary proceedings or decisions concerning members of the judiciary, insisting that such matters fall exclusively within the authority of the independent Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Responding to media queries, the Minister has said the Government had neither the authority nor any role in decisions relating to the administration of judicial officers, including their transfers and disciplinary matters.
Addressing concerns over the recent transfers of certain magistrates, including Gampaha Magistrate Bandula Gunaratne, Nanayakkara has said judicial officers were transferred periodically through an established chronological process administered by the JSC.
He has stressed that the Government did not implement these transfers and was not privy to the internal deliberations or reasons behind decisions taken by the Commission.
The Minister’s remarks come amid questions surrounding the transfer of the Gampaha Magistrate, who had reportedly sought contempt of court proceedings against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya over alleged non-compliance with a court order.
Responding to questions about a complaint lodged by the IGP concerning certain judicial decisions, Nanayakkara has confirmed that a written complaint had been submitted to the JSC.
He has said the complaint would be examined independently by the Commission, reiterating that neither he nor the Government would intervene in the process.
The Minister has also declined to comment on the merits of judicial proceedings, maintaining that the independence of the JSC and the judiciary must be respected.
His remarks come amid growing public scrutiny of the relationship between the police and the judiciary, particularly over allegations of non-compliance with court orders and questions surrounding the independence of judicial institutions.
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