Another Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed with the Supreme Court, against holding the General Election on June 20.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu has lodged the petition, claiming that the Election Commission’s decision is unconstitutional.

The Attorney General, the members of the Election Commission, the Secretary to the President and several others have been named as the respondents of this petition.

The petitioner argues that the Constitution has provided mandatory provisions to fix date or dates for the parliamentary election and convene the new Parliament not later than 3 months from the date of proclamation of the dissolution of Parliament.

As the President dissolved the Parliament on March 2, the election date could not be later than the 2nd of June, the petitioner pointed out.

However, the new date set for elections by the Election Commission falls outside this time period and is unconstitutional, he argues.

In addition, the petitioner has stressed that a free and fair election cannot be held due to the local outbreak of COVID-19 virus adding that it is a violation of people’s right to vote freely.

The petitioner accordingly seeks the Supreme Court to rule that the Election Commission’s decision to hold the General Election on June 20 is unconstitutional and deliver a verdict to invalidate holding the poll on June 20.

The first FR petition against the General Election on June 20 was lodged on May 02, by Attorney-at-Law Charitha Gunaratne.