INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Supreme Court has ordered for a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed against Pastor Jerome Fernando to be taken up for consideration
before a judge bench chaired by the Chief Justice.This order was issued when the relevant petition was taken up before a three-member
Supreme Court judge bench consisting of Justices Murdhu Fernando, Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Janak De Silva today (10).Several religious
leaders had filed this petition seeking an order to prosecute controversial Pastor Jerome Fernando under the United Nations International
filing the petition have expressed their willingness to withdraw it.Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who appeared
on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the court that in accordance with the previous court order, all investigation reports conducted
under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act regarding Pastor Jerome have been submitted to the court.After considering the facts, the judge
bench ordered that since the relevant petition had previously been considered before the Chief Justice, it is appropriate to recall the case
before a bench comprising the Chief Justice.Subsequently, the Supreme Court judge bench ordered the petition to be recalled before a bench
chaired by the Chief Justice on July 22.
