Judicial system paralyzed due to vacancies in the Supreme Court: Opposition parties jointly propose motion in Parliament

Opposition members have jointly signed a special motion in Parliament to hold an urgent debate on the judicial deadlock caused by the long-standing vacancies in the High Court. All opposition members have jointly signed the motion letter to be submitted to the Speaker in the Parliament premises, seeking urgent permission to hold this debate under Standing Order 83(1). The motion submitted by the opposition parties on this issue further states that, “More than eight posts of Justices in the country’s highest court structure have been kept vacant for more than six months without any appointments. Due to this prolonged delay in the hearing of cases, the rule of law and the moral justice system of the country have been severely affected in the current environment. Due to this extraordinary situation, the overall functioning of the High Court and the structure for taking up cases have been largely paralyzed. As a direct result, the fundamental rights guaranteed to the people through the Constitution and the immediate access to justice for the public have been largely obstructed. The opposition members have strongly emphasized in this motion the constitutional role and accountability of Parliament regarding this serious crisis and the judicial paralysis that has arisen in the country’s highest judiciary. Therefore, the people’s judicial In order to protect their rights, the opposition parties have also made an urgent request through their motion that the Speaker immediately allocate a date and grant permission for a debate in Parliament on this nationally important crisis.