UPDATE: The Court of Appeal yesterday decided to proceed with the contempt of court application filed against former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran and two others, since the parties failed to reach a settlement.
Accordingly, the Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardhena and Priyantha Fernando decided to record evidence from witnesses called by the petitioner.
Filing a contempt of court action in Court of Appeal, B.Denishwaran alleged that the former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and Ananthi Sasitharan and K.Sivanesan have willfully acted in contempt of the Court of Appeal order since they prevented him from acting as a Minister in the Northern Province.
Denishwaran stated that the first respondent, Justice Wigneswaran has, by his conduct and statements, acted in contumacious and willful disobedience of the order of the Court of Appeal and thus committed an act of contempt against the authority and dignity of the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal on June 29, 2018 issued an Interim Order preventing the decision of former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran to expel B. Denishwaran from functioning as the Fisheries and Transport Minister in the province.
Counsel Suren Fernando appearing for the petitioner Denishwaran informed Court that his client is ready to withdraw the contempt of court application subject to several conditions including the tendering apology to the petitioner and the withdrawal of appeal petitions filed in Supreme Court by the respondents.
However, President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran appearing for former Chief Minister Wigneswaran disagreed with the proposal and told court that his client is ready to face the trial.
Accordingly, A. Pathinadan, chief secretary to the Northern Province gave evidence as a witness called by the petitioner. In his evidence, the witness affirmed that he had received a copy of the interim order issued by Court of Appeal confirming B. Denishwaran can continue as a Provincial Council Minister. Further hearing fixed for today (16).
The petitioner B.Denishwaran had challenged Northern former Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran in the Court of Appeal, complaining that the Chief Minister had no power to appoint or remove any Provincial Council minister.
Former Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran had also filed an appeal in Supreme Court challenging the Court of Appeal’s Interim Order to prevent Wigneswaran’s decision to remove B.Denishwaran from functioning as Fisheries and Transport Miister in the province.
Counsel Suren Fernando appeared for the petitioner Denishwaran. President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran appeared for former Chief Minister Wigneswaran.
CA decides to proceed with Contempt of court hearing against Wigneswaran -Time: 16:50
The Court of Appeal today decided to proceed with contempt of court application filed against Northern Province former Chief Minister and Retired Supreme Court Justice C.V Wigneswaran and two others, since parties failed to reach a settlement.
Accordingly, the Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardhena and Priyantha Fernando decided to record evidence from witnesses called by the petitioner.
Filing a contempt of court action in Court of Appeal, B.Denishwaran alleged that former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran and Ananthi Sasitharan and K.Sivanesan have willfully acted in contempt of the Court of Appeal order since they prevented him from acting as a Minister of the Northern Province.
