Mary Jean Varma v. Dr Chrisantha Nicholas Anthony Nonis et al. – NO. 11/2016-2017

In the case between Mary Jean Varma and Dr Chrisantha Nicholas Anthony Nonis, Francis Lalith Fonseka, Lakshman Leelaraj Samarasinghe, and Shelendra Marianne Andrea Nonis Ranaweera, the court addressed the issue of whether the Court of Appeal possessed jurisdiction to hear an application for contempt of court against the Respondents for allegedly violating interim orders of the High Court of the Western Province (Colombo). It was held that such an application must be filed before the High Court itself, given that the High Court is independently empowered to punish for contempt of its own orders under the Judicature Act and Article 105(3) of the Constitution. The principle reaffirmed is that the court with original cognizance of the main matter and the facts is best placed to adjudicate alle