Ramesh vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA PHC 178/04-2004

In the case between K.M.J.J. Ramesh (Petitioner/Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the Court of Appeal possessed jurisdiction to hear an appeal where the High Court Judge had previously exercised appellate power. It was held that the Court of Appeal lacked such jurisdiction, reaffirming the principle that an appeal does not lie to the Court of Appeal from a judgment of the High Court when acting in its appellate capacity, as established by Wickremasekera Vs. O.I.C. Police Station Ampara [(2004) (1) SLR 257]. This decision emphasized the binding nature of precedent on jurisdiction and clarified the limitations on appellate review by the Court of Appeal in such contexts.

K.T. Chitrasiri J. — It was determined, upon consid