Bar Council concerned over transfer of Judges

Members of the Sri Lanka Bar Council, a key decision making body of the Sri Lanka Bar Association, have raised serious concern over the transfer of the judge conducting the magisterial inquiry into Wasim Thajudeen’s death.

Thajudeen’s case became a hot topic last Saturday during a meeting of the Sri Lanka Bar Council as some members of the Bar Council strongly criticized the transfer of Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris saying it would make an adverse impact on the Thajudeen’s case.

They also expressed disappointment and displeasure over the transfer of Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya who is hearing a number of cases pertaining to top echelons of the previous government.A key section of the Bar Council members discussed the possibility of sending a letter to the Judicial Services Commission against the transfers of Nishantha Pieris and Gihan Pilapitiya.

However, another section was not in favour of the idea on the grounds that the JSC, headed by the Chief Justice, might interpret it as an attempt to interfere with the affairs of the judiciary.