CJ can resign before impeachment debate - Deputy Speaker
There will be no developments in connection with the report prepared
by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to investigate
into the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr Shirani
Bandaranaike until January 8, 2013, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody
said.
He said the Chief Justice is free to resign if she wishes, before
this date or resort to any other action.
Weerakkody said Parliament can decide how long the report of the PSC
will be debated. He said according to Standing Orders and the provisions
of the constitution, after the report is submitted to the Speaker, it
will be kept for a cooling off period of one month before it is debated
in Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker said work of the PSC, which is only an
investigative body, has been completed now. He said at the end of the
debate, if Parliament resolved that the report is genuine, with a
special majority of the members and resolved that the Chief Justice
should be impeached, the resolution would be sent to the President.
“However, if it is not passed with a special majority, the Chief
Justice would continue to remain in the post,” Deputy Speaker Weerakkody
said.
He said if the President decides to impeach the Chief Justice as
recommended by Parliament, he would have to address Parliament before
doing so.
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