The Supreme Court yesterday (20) granted permission to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a father and son who are seeking Rs. 100 million in compensation over alleged violations of their fundamental rights by the Grandpass Police during Operation Justice under the previous government.
The petition was filed by two businessmen, Mohammed Suleiman and Iftan Ramatullah, residents of the Grandpass area.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Sobitha Rajakaruna and Menaka Wijesundara issued the order after considering the basic facts presented in the petition.
According to the petition, on March 14 last year, officers attached to the Grandpass Police had forcibly entered their apartment during Operation Justice, conducted a search, assaulted them, and subsequently arrested them on allegations of drug possession. The duo was later produced before court and remanded.
They state that they were eventually released on bail, and later fully released after the allegations could not be substantiated.
The petitioners request the Supreme Court to declare that their fundamental rights were violated and to order the respondents to pay Rs. 100 million in compensation.
Attorney-at-Law Hijaaz Hizbullah appeared for the petitioners.
