In its judgment delivered yesterday ( 19), the Court held that Professor Kapila Perera had acted arbitrarily and interfered with the constitutional powers of the Public Service Commission, thereby violating the petitioner’s rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution.
The petitioner, W.S. Sathyananda, a Special Grade SLAS officer with nearly three decades of service, had been appointed as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Transport in December 2024.
However, after reporting for duty, he was informed through a message from the Ministry Secretary that another officer had already been selected for the position.
According to the petition, Sathyananda later returned to the Ministry but was allegedly told that his services were not required and was asked to leave. He subsequently returned to the “Officers Pool” of the Ministry of Public Administration before later receiving a new appointment.
The Court observed that the authority over appointments and transfers of public officers lies solely with the Public Service Commission and not with ministry secretaries. It further stated that attempts to interfere with those powers undermine both the rule of law and public confidence in the administrative system.
The judgment also noted that the actions of the Secretary had affected not only administrative procedures but also the dignity and professional standing of the petitioner.
Although the Court did not award compensation or legal costs, it stated that no financial payment could fully compensate for the humiliation, embarrassment, and loss of dignity experienced by the officer.
