by Chitra Weerarathne

The Secretary Defence will comply with the order made by the Human Rights Commission to grant Major General Sarath Munesinghe, (former Deputy Speaker of Parliament) with the contingent of bodyguards prescribed by the HRC. But the Secretary Defence will have to decide whether he will deploy police or army personnel, for this purpose, D. P. Mendis PC told the Supreme Court on Friday.

The Supreme Court ordered that this case be called on Monday, to see whether the order had been complied with by the Secretary Defence.

The Human Rights Commission in a report, published on November 20, this year said that the Major General should be granted eleven bodyguards by November 23, failing which the Secretary Defence and the Army Commander should write to the HRC, giving reasons.

The HRC also said that the Major General had been subjected to arbitrary treatment and discrimination on grounds of political opinion, when his bodyguards were withdrawn on October 12 this year, soon after his resignation from the SLFP and joining the UNP.

The Major General had complained about this withdrawal of bodyguards, to the Supreme Court in a fundamental rights violation plea, when he said that at present he is at the mercy of the LTTE.

The Fundamental Rights Violation plea was called before the Supreme Court yesterday.

Counsel for the Secretary Defence said that his client will comply with the order of the HRC, to grant eleven body guards to the Major General. He has however to decide whether the guards will be from the police or the Army.

The court directed that the case be called on Monday to see whether the order has been implemented.

Upul Jayasuriya appeared for the petitioner, Maj. General Sarath Munesinghe, Palitha Fernando, Deputy Solicitor General appeared for the commander of the Army.

The Bench comprised, Justice D. P. S. Gunesekera, Justice P. Edussuriya and Justice H. S. Yapa.