Rtd. Judges sue Justice Ministry Secretary

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Two retired judges in two separate plaints sued the Secretary to the Justice and Law Reforms Ministry and the Central Finance Company Ltd stating that the two had entered into an illegal agreement to lease out two vehicles that were provided for them by the Justice Ministry, to two other judges although the plaintiffs were entitled to buy those vehicles.

Colombo District Judge Sampath Wijeratne yesterday issued notice of interim injunction to the Secretary to the Justice and Law Reforms Ministry and the Central Finance Company Ltd returnable on May 27.

The two retired judges Ms. Pearl Karaliyadda Gunatilake and C.M.N. Dushyantha de Silva of the Judges Housing Complex, Nugegoda filing the plaint cited Suhada Gamlath, the Secretary to the Justice and Law Reforms Ministry and the Central Finance Company Ltd and the Attorney General as the defendants.

The plaintiffs stated that while they were functioning as judges, each was entitled for a vehicle allowance of Rs 30,000 or a vehicle was provided by the Justice Ministry. The judges were allowed to buy those vehicles at their retirement.

Plaintiffs submitted before the Court that two vehicles were leased out for them in 2004 as a result of an agreement between the first and the second defendants. At their retirement they expressed their willingness to buy those vehicles.

But they learnt later that the Secretary to the Justice and Law Reforms Ministry had entered into another dishonest agreement with the defendant company to lease out those vehicles based on the same value in 2004, for another two judges. The plaintiffs prayed before the Court to declare the second agreement entered into between the first and the second defendants was illegal. The plaintiffs also prayed to issue interim injunction refraining the defendants from taking measures that would obstruct the plaintiffs from buying those vehicles.