Attorneys’ rights at police stations:
Draft rules to be submitted
Wasantha Ramanayake
The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Attorney General to inform
the Court of the current progress in respect of the draft rules and
regulations with regard to the rights of representation of attorneys at
the Police stations.
Accordingly, Senior State Counsel Viveka Siriwardane de Silva
undertook to report the progress of the draft rules of the IGP to the
court on June 23.
Bar Association President Shibly Aziz informed Court that the
proposed rules and regulations had been sent to the Legal Draftsman and
would be gazetted subsequently with the approval of the Minister.
The Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka De Silva, Justice Nimal
Gamini Amaratunga and Justice K. Sripavan.
In terms of the draft rules, the Police officers are bound to treat
with courtesy attorneys-at-law who would visit police stations as part
of their professional duties.
In terms of the draft regulations, the police officers who use
abusive language and physical force or any other intimidatory conduct in
respect of any person visiting police stations will be severely dealt
with under the Police Ordinance and any other existing laws.
Further in terms of the draft regulations, a four member special
committee comprising a senior counsel of the Attorney General’s
Department not below the office of the Additional Solicitor General, the
President of the Bar Association, the Legal Director of the Police and
member of the Police Commission will be appointed to report and make
recommendations in connection with the offences covered by the draft
regulations.
These draft regulations were an outcome of a rights application filed
by an Attorney-at-Law who complained to the Court that his rights were
violated by a Police Officer attached to the Bambalapitiya Police
Station on July 24, 2008. |