By The Supreme Court (SC) has granted leave to proceed with an appeal filed by the Attorney General challenging the Court of Appeal (CA) order preventing the arrest of self-proclaimed prophet Jerome Fernando when he returned to the country, though he was named as a suspect for insulting Buddhism.
The AG had filed an appeal requesting the SC to quash the CA order.
The SC also directed the CA Registrar, who was present in court, to ensure that all documents pertaining to the case be held in the CA safe and no one else should have access to those documents.
When the appeal was taken up before SC Justices S. Thurairaja and Achala Wengappuli, Attorney Jagath Wickramanayake, who appeared for “Pastor” Fernando, informed the court that his client was prepared to withdraw the petition filed before the CA over the matter.
Senior State Counsel Shavendra Wickrama, who appeared for the AG, objected to this, stating that the CA had given its order without considering the written submissions filed by the AG. He said that since the appeal had been filed, the AG could not accept this process.
Having granted leave to proceed with the appeal, the SC postponed further hearings until August 28.
(Sunday Times )
