Will CJ interdict the judge and assist inquiries?

EDITORIAL

[July 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian] A Girl’s Charges against a judge has been in the news for almost two weeks now. Sri Lanka Guardian was the first to report the matter. By now even the complaint no. has been published. It is MOIB 210/236. The allegation is that the judge brutally has assaulted her and kept her without food when she refused his sexual advances.

According to several lawyers who claim to be aware of the details of the alleged sexual assaults, the judge should charged for rape and other forms of serious sex abuse.

Keeping the girl without food amount to cruel and inhuman treatment and therefore an offence under CAT act No 22 of 1994, punishable with 7 years of rigorous imprisonment. A judge is a public officer and therefore CAT act applies also to judges.

Million dollar question is , who will arrest and interrogate the judge These days police officers tremble when they are to question any influential person. No inquiring officer may want to undertake this investigation unless very specifically authorized to do.

Anyway, so long as he remains a judge, he is unlikely to be arrested.

What will Chief Justice Do? News papers have reported that CJ is aware of the case. In fairness to law enforcement authorities CJ should interdict the judge to allow a fair inquiry.

Justice need not only to be done but should appear to be done.