Plea to quash the interdiction of Ananda and Kingswood principals:

CA refuses to issue Interim Order
 

BY WASANTHA Ramanayake

THE Court of Appeal on Thursday refused to stay the operation of the letters of interdiction issued to principals of Ananda and Kingswood Colleges in two writ applications filed by the two principals.

The Bench comprised Justices K. Sripavan and Eric Basnayake.

The counsel for both petitioner principals urged Court to issue the interim order staying the operation of the letters of interdictions issued by the first respondent, Secretary to the Education Ministry on the basis that she had not been delegated the power to interdict the petitioners by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

State Counsel M. Ameen submitted that the inquiries about the alleged irregularities by the petitioners were already pending before PSC. He submitted that the unqualified students had been admitted to the year one classes and the qualified students had been left out.

He submitted that the petitioners in their statements to the Presidential Investigation Unit had admitted that there had been irregularities with regard to the first year school admissions.

Petitioners Ranjith Chandrasekera Principal of the Kingwood College and B.A. Abeyratne, Principal of Ananda College filed the Writ of Certiorari application to quash the letters dated April 6, which informed the decision of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Secretary to interdict the petitioners subjected to the covering the approval of the Public Service Commission.

The petitioners stated that they had been interdicted in connection with alleged irregularities with regard to the year one school admissions.

They stated that although the PS had delegated the administrative powers with the respondent, the Secretary, she did not have the disciplinary control over the petitioners.

Petitioners stated that the decision to interdict them was arbitrary, capricious and gross abuse of powers of the respondent Secretary.

Petitioners sought to quash the decision of the Ministry of Education Secretary to interdict them.

President's Counsel Faiz Mustapha and Gomin Dayasiri appeared for the petitioner principals. State counsel M. Ameen appeared for the respondent.

The notice would be returnable on May 17.