New laws on Contempt of Court mooted | Daily News

New laws on Contempt of Court mooted

The Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Justice Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a new Bill on Contempt of Court.

As the offence of Contempt of Court has not been defined in Sri Lanka, there is no clear and uniform procedure for hearing and adjudicating such cases. As a result it is difficult to identify the limits of interference in the justice process and the limits on the right to freedom of expression.

It seems appropriate to reconsider this rule when considering cases related to Contempt of Court, that have been severely criticised recently. The Law Commission of Sri Lanka has studied the matter and prepared preliminary drafts with a view to introducing appropriate laws.

Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a Bill, to enact a new law based on the preliminary draft above.


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