Students granted leave to proceed with FR case

Jayantha DE SILVA

The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights case in which two students had petitioned against their non - selection to the Medical Faculty in the 2010-2011 intake.

The petitioners are Natasha Dulmi Hewagama, a resident of Ahangama and H W R U Sampath from Galle district.

The respondents cited are Higher Education Ministry Secretary, University Grants Commission chairman and the Attorney General.

The petition interalia stated that based on both results and the Z score of the GCE (AL) 2010 -2011 their first preference is medicine but had being chosen to follow a course other than medicine. They had complained to the Human Rights Commission (HRC).

The HRC had stated that there had been a violation of Fundamental Rights and recommended that the petitioners be enrolled in a suitable university to follow medicine.

However, the respondents had not selected the petitioners to a university to follow medicine, a violation of their Fundamental Rights.

Attorney at law Ravindra Dabare submitted that in the Jaffna district, five students had being selected in excess of the intake for medicine.

Senior State Counsel Indika Demuni Silva appeared for the Attorney General.