SC orders compensation for tortured youth

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2001, 04:40 GMT]
The Supreme Court Friday upheld the Fundamental Rights (FR) application filed by a Tamil youth of Vavuniya that he was subjected to severe torture when he was in Police custody. A three-member bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Shiranee Bandaranaike and Hector S.Yapa after inquiry ordered the State to pay 12,500 rupees as compensation to the petitioner Sivalingam Konesalingam of Koolankulam, Vavuniya.

The Court was told that the petitioner was arrested and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The petitioner cited the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, and the Superintendent of Prisons, Officer in Charge of the Vavuniya Police and a Sub Inspector as respondents.

The petitioner stated in court that the Police arrested him on July 13 last year in Vavuniya and that he was assaulted and tortured while in police custody.

Later he was transferred to Kalutara prison. He was released from the Kalutara prison recently.

Meanwhile the Court of Appeal comprised Justices Shiranee Thilakawardene and Nimal Gamini Amaratunge Friday took up the Writ Application filed by the former Justice Minister Mr.Batty Weerakone against the main opposition People's Alliance for inquiry.

Mr. Batty Weerakoon is the leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, which is a constituent of the Peoples' Alliance till it was ousted from power last week at the 12th parliamentary general election.

In the Writ Application the petitioner has prayed court to order the Peoples Alliance to include his name in the National List of parliamentarians according to an understanding reached between his party and the PA before the general election.

Mr. Batty Weerakoon has stated in his application that his name was not included in the list of PA National List of parliamentarians submitted to the Commissioner of Elections as agreed. He has further prayed court to order the Commissioner of Elections to reject the national list of parliamentarians submitted by the PA General Secretary.

Mr. Batty Weerakoon has cited the General Secretary of the PA, the Commissioner of Elections and eleven national list parliamentarians nominated by the PA as respondents.

The Court of Appeal fixed the inquiry for 15th January 2002.