Rajavarothiam Sampanthan vs. Hon. Attorney General – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 351/2018-2018

In the case between Members of Parliament including R. Sampanthan, M.A. Sumanthiran, et al. (Petitioners) and the Attorney General among other executive state officials (Respondents), the Supreme Court addressed the legality of the President’s Proclamation “P1” dissolving Parliament prior to the lapse of four years and six months from its first meeting. It was determined that such dissolution failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of Articles 33(2)(c), 62, and notably 70(1) of the Constitution, which restricts dissolution within the specified period unless a resolution is properly passed by Parliament. The Proclamation was found ultra vires and declared invalid ab initio, thereby violating the Petitioners’ rights under Article 12(1). The holding reaffirmed the principle that exec