Govindarajah v. Attorney General – sllr 2002 volume 3 page 311

The case between Govindarajah (Plaintiff) and the Attorney-General (Defendant) addressed whether the immediate summary conviction for contempt of court, attributed to allegedly giving false evidence without proper notice, violated the principles of natural justice. It was held that failure to inform the accused of the gist of the charge or to provide an opportunity for explanation constituted a clear breach of natural justice, reaffirming the fundamental procedural safeguard that an accused person is entitled to be informed of allegations and to respond. The decision relied on precedents such as Daniel Appuhamy v. The Queen and relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, underscoring that summary convictions require adherence to basic principles of fairness. The appeal was a