{"id":101710,"date":"2020-04-29T17:14:38","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T00:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=101710"},"modified":"2020-04-29T17:14:38","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T00:14:38","slug":"article-150-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/04\/29\/article-150-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Article 150 (3)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chanaka Bandarage<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

There is an argument being made that in accordance with Article 150 (3) of the Constitution the President has power to appropriate funds from the Consolidated Fund only until 20 April 2020; hence, the dissolved Parliament should be reconvened. This argument is wrong.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nwriter states that in accordance with Article 150 (3), the President has power\nto raise such funds on his own accord, at least 14 -21 days after 20 September\n2020 (which is 3 months+ from the date of the election on 20 June 2020 \u2013 the current\nscheduled date). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 14\n-21 days apply because the date of summoning the new Parliament happens after the\nlapse of such a number of days from the date of the election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See especially the\nbold in Article 150 (3), both English and Sinhala versions below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

150(3)- <\/em>Where the President dissolves Parliament before the\nAppropriation Bill for the financial year has passed into law, he may, unless\nParliament shall have already made provision, authorize the issue from the\nConsolidated Fund and the expenditure of such sums as he may consider necessary\nfor the public services until the expiry of a period of three months from\nthe date on which the new Parliament is summoned to meet.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

150(3)- <\/em>\u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dd2\u0dba\u0db8\u0dca \u0dc0\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dc2\u0dba\u0d9a \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dbb\u0dca\u0da2\u0db1 \u0db4\u0db1\u0dad\u0dca\n\u0d9a\u0dd9\u0da7\u0dd4\u0db8\u0dca\u0db4\u0dad \u0db1\u0dd2\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dba \u0db6\u0dc0\u0da7 \u0db4\u0dad\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dd3\u0db8\u0da7 \u0db4\u0dd9\u0dbb \u0da2\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dca \u0db4\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dd2\u0db8\u0dda\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0 \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dd2\u0dbb\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0dcf \u0dc4\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dd4\n\u0dbd\u0dd0\u0db6\u0dd6 \u0d85\u0dc0\u0dc3\u0dca\u0dae\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0d9a \u0db4\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dd2\u0db8\u0dda\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0 \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dca \u0dbb\u0da2\u0dba\u0dda \u0dc3\u0dda\u0dc0\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc3\u0db3\u0dc4\u0dcf \u0db8\u0dd4\u0daf\u0dbd\u0dca \u0dc0\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dbb \u0db1\u0ddc\u0db8\u0dd0\u0dad\u0dca\u0dad\u0dda \u0db1\u0db8\u0dca\n\u0d85\u0db7\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dc0 \u0db4\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dd2\u0db8\u0dda\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0 \u0dbb\u0dd0\u0dc3\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dd3\u0db8\u0da7 \u0db1\u0dd2\u0dba\u0db8\u0dd2\u0dad \u0daf\u0dd2\u0db1 \u0dc3\u0dd2\u0da7 \u0db8\u0dcf\u0dc3 <\/strong><\/em>3<\/strong><\/em>\u0d9a\u0dca \u0d89\u0d9a\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dca \u0dc0\u0db1 \u0dad\u0dd9\u0d9a\u0dca<\/strong><\/em> \u0dbb\u0da2\u0dba\u0dda \u0dc3\u0dda\u0dc0\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc3\u0db3\u0dc4\u0dcf \u0dba\u0db8\u0dca\u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dd2 \u0db8\u0dd4\u0daf\u0dbd\u0d9a\u0dca\n\u0d85\u0dc0\u0dc1\u0dca\u200d\u0dba \u0dc0\u0dd9\u0dad\u0dd0\u0dba\u0dd2 \u0da2\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf \u0dc3\u0dbd\u0d9a\u0dba\u0dd2 \u0db1\u0db8\u0dca \u0d91\u0db8 \u0db8\u0dd4\u0daf\u0dbd \u0d92\u0d9a\u0dcf\u0db6\u0daf\u0dca\u0db0 \u0d85\u0dbb\u0db8\u0dd4\u0daf\u0dbd\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0db1\u0dd2\u0d9a\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dbb\u0dd3\u0db8\u0da7\u0dad\u0dca\n\u0dc0\u0dd0\u0dba \u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dbb\u0dd3\u0db8\u0da7\u0dad\u0dca \u0db1\u0dd2\u0dba\u0db8 \u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dbb\u0dd3\u0db8\u0da7 \u0da2\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf\u0da7 \u0db6\u0dbd\u0dba \u0d87\u0dad\u0dca\u0dad\u0dda\u0dba.<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the\nOpposition\u2019s argument that the President\u2019s financial power under Article 150\n(3) ends on 20 April 2020 has merit. \nThis is because the Government has failed to set a date for the new\nParliament to meet after the election. The Election Commission has set a date\nfor the election (20 June 2020), but Article 150 (3) refers to the first date\nwhich the new Parliament meets. This has to be set by the President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a major\ndrawback on the part of the Government! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, at the moment\nthe 2 March 2020 gazette notification seems to be ineffective. Technically, the\nOpposition\u2019s Petition should succeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, what the\nGovernment must do is to immediately gazette such a first Parliament meeting\ndate<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they are slack,\nthe Government will have to pay a huge price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Writer in his\narticle dated 26 April 2020 (published in Lankaweb) stated that the proposed Petition\nbefore the Court is doomed to fail.  He\nstandby his assertion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who demand\nreconvening of the Parliament seeks a declaration from the Court that the President\u2019s\ngazette notification dated 2 March 2020 issued under Article 70 (1) should be\ndeclared null and void. They have failed to substantiate their argument\nsufficiently and adequately. Their current argument that the election date mentioned\nin the gazette – 25 April 2020, and sitting date of the new parliament – 14 May\n2020 are unachievable is a weak one.  The\ndefective date for holding the election has already been cured by the Election\nCommission by proclaiming a new election date of  20 June 2020. The Government should soon\ngazette the first<\/strong> date that the new Parliament meets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way to mount\na proper challenge that the Parliament must be immediately reconvened is to\nallege that given the dangerous Corona Pandemic, the President has failed to\nexercise his discretion in relation to Articles 70 (1) and 70 (7) in good faith<\/strong>.  But, the Opposition\u2019s proposed Petition does\nnot raise this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 70 (1) \u2013 The President may by Proclamation,\nsummon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article\n70 (7) – If at any time after the dissolution of Parliament, the President\nis satisfied that an emergency has arisen of such a nature that an earlier\nmeeting of Parliament is necessary, he mayby Proclamation summon the\nParliament which has been dissolved to meet on a date not less than three days\nfrom the date of such Proclamation and such Parliament shall stand dissolved\nupon the termination of the emergency or the conclusion of the General\nElection, whichever is earlier.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note may<\/em><\/strong>in both Articles. That suggests the President\u2019s power is discretionary (not\nmandatory).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nexercise of a discretionary power is subject to judicial challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfollowing are grounds of review that could be relied upon (they are set out\nherein only for academic purpose):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(a)  taking an irrelevant consideration into account in the exercising of\nthe discretionary power (showed the desire to dissolve the Parliament early and\nhold early elections disregarding the danger of Corona Pandemic (breach of Article 70 (1);<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(b)  failing to take relevant considerations into account in the exercise\nof the discretionary  power (the\ndangerous Corona Pandemic has created an Emergency situation in the country,\nand during the Corona Pandemic the government is ought to be present in the\nParliament to answer to the people (breach of Article 70 (7).  Refuses to reconvene\nthe dissolved Parliament (breach of Article 70 (7));<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(c)  exercise of the discretionary power for a purpose other than a\npurpose for which the power is conferred (dissolved the Parliament disregarding\nthe Corona Pandemic and set down a date for early elections with the view of securing\nan absolute parliamentary majority (breach of Article 70 (1). Refuses to reconvene the\ndissolved Parliament (breach of Article 70 (7));<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(d)  exercise of a discretionary power in bad faith (dissolved the\nParliament and set down a date for holding elections during a deadly Corona Pandemic\nthat is likely to expose the public to unnecessary risk including death (breach\nof Article 70\n(1). Refuses\nto reconvene the dissolved Parliament (breach of Article 70 (7));<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(e)  exercise of the discretionary power in accordance with a rule or\npolicy without regard to the merits of the particular case (dissolved the\nParliament disregarding the importance of upholding \u2018representative democracy\u2019 \u2013\nthe Government is answerable to people through the Parliament during an Emergency\n(breach of Articles\n70 (1) and 70 (7). Refuses to reconvene the dissolved Parliament (breach of Article 70 (7));<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(g)  exercise of the discretionary power that is so unreasonable that no\nreasonable President could have so exercised the power (the Government is\ncommitted to explain to the public through the Parliament about distribution of\nfood\/how essential services would operate during the curfew, social distancing\nmeasures\/conduct of PCR tests, receipt and disbursement of very large foreign\/local\naid\/funds etc (breach of Article 70 (7).  Refuses to reconvene the\ndissolved Parliament (breach of Article 70 (7));<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n(h)  exercise of the discretionary power in a way that constitutes abuse\nof the power (breach of Articles 70 (1) and 70\n(7)). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chanaka Bandarage There is an argument being made that in accordance with Article 150 (3) of the Constitution the President has power to appropriate funds from the Consolidated Fund only until 20 April 2020; hence, the dissolved Parliament should be reconvened. This argument is wrong. The writer states that in accordance with Article 150 (3), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chanaka-bandarage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101710\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}