Rejection of nominations Court orders to accept around 37 nominations

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Court of Appeal yesterday ordered the relevant returning officers to accept approximately 37 nominations that were originally rejected in connection with the Local Government Elections.  

A Court of Appeal bench, comprising Justice (Acting President) M.T. Mohammed Laffar and Justice K.P. Fernando, made this order after considering several writ petitions that had been filed to challenge the rejection of nomination papers, which were taken up for hearing.  

The Court of Appeal noted that this order would apply to the rejection of nominations related to certification by a Justice of the Peace and the failure to submit proper affidavits.  

Meanwhile, the Court decided to dismiss three applications filed to challenge the rejection of nominations on the grounds of submitting photocopies of birth certificates.  

Several political parties and independent groups had earlier filed writ applications before the Court of Appeal, challenging the rejection of their nominations to multiple local government institutions.