(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The President’s Office has issued a circular on the process to be adhered to by state institutions and state officials In respect of judicial proceedings or matters incidental thereto in which the Government or public officers are parties.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) said the directive has been issued by the Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake to the ministry secretaries, provincial secretaries, state department heads, board of directors of state institutions and councils, and officials below the said ranks.
The circular informs the said state officials under no circumstances should they directly contact or correspond with the Chief Justice, high-ranking justices, Judicial Services Commission or judicial officers, including justices of the High Court, District Courts, and magistrates, the PMD said.
The statement further said that In relation to those matters, care should be taken to transact written documents only with the Attorney General’s Department as per the provisions of Chapter XXVII of the Institutions Code and the related public administration circular instructions.
If dealing with the Attorney General’s Department regarding matters other than the above, those correspondence should be done through the President’s Office only.
The provisions of this circular are not applicable to correspondence between the Ministry of Justice or other government agencies with the Judicial Service Commission, the Attorney General’s Department and judicial officers in relation to their scope of day-to-day general administration and complaints submitted by judicial officers to the Judicial Service Commission.
