Supreme court hears Jaffna HSZ Fundamental Rights case
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 March 2006, 00:05 GMT]
The Supreme Court (SC) Monday gave additional time to the prosecution to obtain a report from the Jaffna Government Agent which dealt with issues related to allowing cultivation on lands within the high security zones in the Jaffna district. The SC made the order when the Fundamental Rights (FR) applications filed by three farmers and Mr.Mavai Senathirajah, Jaffna district parliamentarian, were taken up for further inquiry, legal sources said.
The petitioners in the FR applications have sought the court to direct the Government of Sri Lanka to allow them to cultivate their agricultural lands located inside the high security zones in the Jaffna district. Petitioners further state that due to the SLA ban on cultivating their paddy lands located in the high security zones, they have been deprived of the their livelihood. The ban has, therefore, violated their fundamental rights, legal sources said. The Supreme Court on an earlier date directed the Attorney General to submit a report from the Jaffna Government Agent whether the petitioners could be allowed to cultivate their lands, located in the high security zones, legal sources said. When the FR applications came up for further inquiry on Monday, Mr. Chamintha Fernando, Solicitor General submitted to court that they were unable to get the GA's report but wanted more time to do so, legal sources said.
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