Janaka I. De A. Goonetileke et al. v. Neville Piyadigama et al. – SC F.R APPLICATION 308/2009-2014

In the case between several Assistant Superintendents of Police (Petitioners) and the Chairman and Members of the National Police Commission, along with various police officials including the 9th Respondent (Respondents), the Supreme Court addressed the limitation period for intervention applications under Article 126(2) of the Constitution, the nature of judicial review concerning judicial versus administrative acts, and the strictness of time limits in fundamental rights proceedings. It was held that intervention applications, not filed within the mandatory one-month period, could not be entertained. The Court reaffirmed the principle that statutory time limitations under Article 126(2) are mandatory and do not admit exceptions for late applications seeking to intervene. The decision rel