Chief Inspector W.A.J.H. Fonseka vs Neville Piyadigama, Chairman, National Police Commission and others – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 73/2009-2020

In the case between former Chief Inspectors of Police (1st to 3rd petitioners, including S.G. Munasinghe) and State officials (notably the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Commission), the court addressed the issue of whether the procedure for promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Police was conducted in a manner that violated the petitioners’ constitutional rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The finding established that the process—including successive changes in the marking schemes and allowing promotions to those with lower marks, justified by an unproven “special cadre” for female officers—was irregular and discriminatory. The principle reaffirmed was that public authorities must uphold transparency and non-discrimination in promotions within the publ