{"id":153893,"date":"2025-06-09T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T11:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=153893"},"modified":"2025-06-09T11:37:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T11:37:00","slug":"has-the-last-citadel-fallen-post-retirement-judicial-appointments-by-kks-perera-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/has-the-last-citadel-fallen-post-retirement-judicial-appointments-by-kks-perera-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments &#8211; By KKS Perera"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments &#8211; By KKS Perera<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Source :\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Has-the-Last-Citadel-Fallen-Post-Retirement-Judicial-Appointments\/231-311015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dailymirror.lk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><em><big><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-153894 size-full alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image_e9dc9b6271-e1749468715985.jpg\" alt=\"kks perera\" width=\"228\" height=\"67\" \/>Following his Supreme Court inauguration on 23 January 2013, Peiris\u2019 tenure proved increasingly problematic and controversial. By 28 January 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s newly elected administration declared the appointment constitutionally invalid<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Though India\u2019s Constitution and legal framework permit such appointments, the nomination sparked fierce controversy across legal circles and beyond. Retired judiciary members voiced sharp criticism, with their concerns reverberating throughout the legal community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">One former Supreme Court judge asked metaphorically: \u201cHas the last citadel fallen?\u201d while a retired Delhi High Court Chief Justice labeled it \u201cquid pro quo,\u201d suggesting transactional motives behind the appointment. All this happened when Former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who served as India\u2019s 46th Chief Justice until his retirement on 18 November 2019, received a nomination to the Rajya Sabha four months after stepping down from the Supreme Court. In March 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind appointed him to the Upper House of Parliament based on recommendations from Prime Minister Modi\u2019s administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">In a more positive development, Jayantha Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka\u2019s former 47th Chief Justice, has officially commenced his ambassadorial duties as the nation\u2019s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He presented credentials to UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres at UN headquarters in New York, marking his successful transition from judicial leadership to international diplomacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">\u00a0The Indian Chief Justice emphasised that courts must not merely deliver justice but must visibly maintain independence from political power structures. Public trust, he argued persuasively, forms the judiciary\u2019s essential foundation and requires unwavering constitutional adherence through consistently impartial decision-making, free from external influence or expectation of reward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Politicians, lawyers, and constitutional scholars echoed these concerns with growing intensity, arguing that regardless of legal validity, such appointments fundamentally undermine judicial independence\u2014democracy\u2019s cornerstone. The controversy exposed fundamental questions about appropriate boundaries between judicial and legislative branches, and whether post-retirement political positions create problematic conflicts of interest or damaging perceptions thereof for former judges.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><big><strong>Historical Context: Sri Lanka\u2019s Judicial Origins and Controversies<\/strong><\/big><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Sri Lanka\u2019s Chief Justice position originated from Britain\u2019s Royal Charter of Justice in 1801, whose provisions now appear in the country\u2019s Constitution. This charter established the Supreme Court with two distinct judicial positions: \u201cThe Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature in the Island of Ceylon\u201d and \u201cThe Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature in the Island of Ceylon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Both appointments required candidates to have practiced as barristers in England or Ireland for at least five years before nomination. This stringent qualification ensured Ceylon\u2019s highest court would be staffed by individuals thoroughly versed in British legal traditions and judicial procedures, establishing a foundation of legal expertise that would influence the system for generations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Codrington Edmund Carrington became the first person to hold this distinguished position, setting the precedent for what evolved into one of Sri Lanka\u2019s most important constitutional offices under the colonial administration\u2019s judicial framework.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><big>The Controversy of 2013\u20132015<\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">President Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s installation of Mohan Peiris PC as Chief Justice on 15 January 2013 sparked intense and lasting controversy. The appointment, endorsed by Parliamentary Council, followed Shirani Bandaranayake\u2019s disputed impeachment removal, creating a constitutional crisis that would define judicial politics for years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Despite Peiris\u2019s extensive and impressive credentials\u2014former Attorney General, Senior Legal Officer to the Cabinet, and Seylan Bank Chairman\u2014his close personal and professional ties to Rajapaksa drew widespread criticism from legal experts and civil society. Opponents viewed his elevation as presidential consolidation of judicial control, representing a dangerous precedent for executive interference in judicial independence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Following his Supreme Court inauguration on 23 January 2013, Peiris\u2019 tenure proved increasingly problematic and controversial. By 28 January 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s newly elected administration declared the appointment constitutionally invalid, arguing that Bandaranayake\u2019s impeachment was fundamentally unlawful, creating no legitimate vacancy for Peiris to fill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Sirisena made serious allegations, claiming that Peiris had promised favorable judicial decisions in exchange for retention in office. His subsequent removal resulted in retrospective classification as de facto chief justice rather than legitimate holder of the office, highlighting the appointment\u2019s controversial and questionable legal foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><big>Former C J Jayasuriya Assumes UN Diplomatic Role<\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">His distinguished legal career began in 1982, progressing systematically through various Attorney General\u2019s Department positions before becoming Attorney General in 2016. Appointed President\u2019s Counsel in 2012, he served as Trial Attorney at UN Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, bringing exceptional international legal expertise and credibility to his diplomatic role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">At a UK Supreme Court roundtable, Chief Justice BR Gavai addressed judicial independence concerns, revealing that he and Supreme Court colleagues have committed to rejecting government positions after retirement. This pledge aims to eliminate perceptions that judicial rulings might be swayed by expectations of future political appointments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Gavai\u2019s stance contrasts sharply with former Indian CJ Ranjan Gogoi\u2019s controversial decision to join Rajya Sabha merely 16 weeks post-retirement, which drew widespread criticism. The Modi administration has previously appointed retired chief justices to gubernatorial roles, raising questions about judicial-executive boundaries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><big><strong>India\u2019s Constitutional Framework for Retired Judges<\/strong><\/big><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">India\u2019s Constitution establishes specific and detailed restrictions on former judges while maintaining necessary judicial administrative flexibility. Article 124(7) categorically prevents retired Supreme Court justices from practicing before any Indian court or authority, preserving judicial independence and preventing potential conflicts of interest that could compromise the system\u2019s integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Significantly, the Constitution contains no explicit prohibition on post-retirement governmental appointments for former judges, creating constitutional silence that has enabled controversial political appointments like Gogoi\u2019s. This gap in explicit guidance has become a focal point for constitutional scholars and reform advocates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Article 128 provides essential administrative flexibility, empowering the Chief Justice, with presidential consent, to recall qualified retired judges to serve temporarily as Supreme Court justices when needed, effectively addressing workload pressures while maintaining personnel standards and judicial continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><big>The Ongoing Constitutional Debate<\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">While constitutional provisions lack explicit prohibition against retired judges accepting governmental positions, this practice generates intense and ongoing debate regarding judicial independence and institutional integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">\u00a0Supporting Arguments: Advocates emphasise utilising judicial expertise for governance, arguing that seasoned jurists bring valuable legal understanding to policy-making roles, maintaining talent pools for effective administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Opposition Concerns: Critics warn that such appointments create quid pro quo perceptions, potentially compromising judicial independence when judges anticipate future governmental roles. This practice may generate conflicts of interest, undermining public trust in judicial impartiality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Ethical Framework: The Supreme Court\u2019s 1997 Restatement of Values of Judicial Life emphasises impartiality and avoiding conflicts of interest. However, critics view these appointments as systematic attempts to weaken judicial authority by enticing judges with political prospects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><big>A Supreme CC<\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Instead of making controversial and divisive public statements, retired Chief Justices and Supreme Court judges should be assigned a formal role within a constitutionally established Supreme Constitutional Council comprising seven or nine members. Working in consultation with the existing Constitutional Council, this body would be responsible for continuously reviewing the Constitution and providing independent, authoritative advice to the Executive and Parliament on necessary amendments. Such a mechanism would help ensure that constitutional changes are legally sound and broadly acceptable to both the legislature and the Supreme Court\u2014without resorting to the burdensome process of a two-thirds majority, a public referendum, and separate judicial sanction. It would also curb the abuse of power by politicians seeking to alter the Constitution for personal or political gain and protect the public from ill-advised referendums, such as the one in 1982 that extended the term of the incumbent government.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments &#8211; By KKS Perera Source :\u00a0dailymirror.lk Following his Supreme Court inauguration on 23 January 2013, Peiris\u2019 tenure proved increasingly problematic and controversial. By 28 January 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s newly elected administration declared the appointment constitutionally invalid Though India\u2019s Constitution and legal framework permit such appointments, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":153896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[80033,80037,80032,80034,80036,80035,80038],"class_list":{"0":"post-153893","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-chief-justice-controversies-sri-lanka","9":"tag-jayantha-jayasuriya-un-ambassador","10":"tag-judicial-independence-in-south-asia","11":"tag-ranjan-gogoi-rajya-sabha-appointment","12":"tag-shirani-bandaranayake-impeachment","13":"tag-sri-lanka-supreme-court-history","14":"tag-supreme-court-ethics-india","15":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>judicial independence in South Asia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments - By KKS Perera Following his Supreme Court inauguration on 23 January\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments - By KKS Perera\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments - By KKS Perera Following his Supreme Court inauguration on 23 January\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/has-the-last-citadel-fallen-post-retirement-judicial-appointments-by-kks-perera-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"eLanka\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eLanka.com.au\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-09T11:37:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Has-the-Last-Citadel-Fallen-Post-Retirement-Judicial-Appointments-By-KKS-Perera-e1749468985258.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"541\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"eLanka admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"eLanka admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/has-the-last-citadel-fallen-post-retirement-judicial-appointments-by-kks-perera-2\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/has-the-last-citadel-fallen-post-retirement-judicial-appointments-by-kks-perera-2\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"eLanka admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/#\/schema\/person\/f6e635b74ab35ef88a68a9973cacc5bd\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018Has the Last Citadel Fallen?\u2019 Post-Retirement Judicial Appointments &#8211; 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