Case against Sandagiri’s new post put off

The Supreme Court Bench postponed the hearing in the petition filed against the appointment of former Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri to the post of Deputy Defence Secretary.

The petitioner, Charles Peter Wiggin, a typist clerk, cited the former Navy Commander, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Attorney General as respondents.

He alleged that the appointment was illegal and unlawful as the former Commander has inquiries pending against him regarding the purchase of military equipment for the Navy. Senior State Counsel Indika Demuni de Silva appearing for the Attorney General told Court a motion, annexed to which is a Cabinet decision of November 1, 2006, had been filed on January 12, 2007 stating that the previous decision of 8-6-2006 on the basis of which the petitioner invoked the jurisdiction of the Court against the appointment of the former Comm-ander has been rescinded by the Cabinet of Minsters. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N Silva and Justices N Dissanayake and Rajah Fernando then postponed hearing for March 15.