JMC Commissioner released on pleading innocence by Jaffna magistrate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 May 2010, 05:39 GMT]
Jaffna Municipal council (JMC) Commissioner, M. S. Saravnabavan pleaded that he has no involvement in the advertisement made in the name of JMC in the local dailies Tuesday which contained sentences amounting to contempt of court, sources in Jaffna said. On directives from the Chief Justice and Justice Service Commissioner, Jaffna magistrate had ordered Tuesday to arrest the JMC Commissioner and produce him in the court as the Commissioner had failed to appear in the court for inquiry into the said advertisement. Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) opposition members of JMC said that Jaffna Mayor Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam’s husband is responsible for JMC administration to be controlled by Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and expressed concern for disrespect brought on JMC administration.

The said advertisement, an abstention of duties by JMC employees besides Jaffna Mayor demanding the release of Ilango alias Regan, the deputy mayor and a key EPDP operative detained in Jaffna prison for suspected involvement in issuing death threats to Chaavakachcheari magistrate K. Pirabakaran had been the causes of this issue, the sources added.

Jaffna magistrate ordered Tuesday JMC Commissioner to publish a statement refuting the said advertisement Wednesday in the local dailies and released him.

The advertisement had been titled in Tamil language calling the ‘Judiciary to render justice’ and had been brought to the notice of the Chief Justice and the Justice Service Commission by the magistrates of Jaffna district.

Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Jaffna Mayor, Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam had Tuesday said that unless Jaffna deputy mayor, Ilango alias Regan arrested and detained in Jaffna remand prison is released within three days Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) employees will abstain from their duties bringing all the work of JMC to a stand still, in a media release to local dailies.

JMC opposition parties had accused Mayor’s husband Patkunam of forcing JMC employees to abstain from duty Tuesday.

Jaffna magistrate Mr. Anantharajah had ordered Monday the second suspect Ilango alias Regan, Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Deputy Mayor of Jaffna, for alleged involvement in threatening Chaavakachcheari magistrate K. Pirabakaran, to be placed in Jaffna remand prison until 24 May.