UNP restrained from taking action against Grero
Sarath MALALASEKERA
Colombo District Judge G A D Ganepola in an order restrained the UNP
leadership, Party Secretary and his agents from taking any further
action against UNP Parliamentarian Condagamage Mohan Lal Grero on the
grounds of speaking and voting in favour of the budget.
The District Judge also ordered the defendants in the case to file
objections on or before January 26, 2012. On the last hearing date,
former Colombo District Judge W R R N Watupola issued an enjoining order
restraining the UNP leadership from expelling or conducting any
disciplinary action against Grero.
The enjoining order was further extended till January 26. The judge
allowed an application by the respondents to file their objections on
January 26. Grero, in his petition, said that he is a Member of
Parliament and the first defendant Ranil Wickremesinghe is the leader of
the UNP. In terms of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the UNP had
amended the constitution on December 12, 2010 which had not been
communicated to the Commissioner of Elections in terms of Section 8 (2)
of the Parliamentary Election Amended Act No 1 of 1981, he said. The
petitioner also claimed that at the second reading of the budget on
November 30, 2011, acting with his conscience and his right under the
constitution as a Member of Parliament, he voted for the budget in
favour of the government.
Senior counsel Faiszer Musthapha who appeared with Attorney Namal
Rajapaksa for Grero contended that the allegations against Grero are
false and malicious. The plaintiff, as a member of Parliament and it
terms of the constitution, is within the legal rights to vote in favour
of the second reading of the budget.
The counsel also submitted that the Working Committee meeting was
held on December 7, effectively leaving no sufficient time for the
plaintiff to show cause. |