CHAPTER XXI
High Court (HC)
176.
(1) There shall be a High Court for each Province,
and each High Court of such Province shall consist of the President of such
High Court and not less than seventeen and not more than twenty one other
Judges.
(2) There shall be a special High Court of Sri Lanka with all the powers of a Provincial
High Court under this Chapter, which shall entertain expeditious proceedings
for serious corruption cases.
(3) Attorney Commission, Anti-corruption Commission, and National Audit Commission
shall have the right to initiate proceedings for serious cases in High Court of
Sri Lanka.
177.
A bench of not less than three Judges shall sit
in a trial.
178.
The judgment of a High Court shall be the
decision of the majority.
179. Every such High Court of a Province shall:
(1) exercise according to law, the original criminal jurisdiction in respect of
offences committed within Province;
(2) notwithstanding anything in Article 165, and subject to any law, exercise
appellate and revisionary jurisdiction in respect of convictions, sentences and
orders entered or imposed by Magistrate Courts and Primary Courts within Province:
Provided that High Court of a Province shall be the final appellate court for
petitions originated in Primary Courts within Province;
(3) exercise such other jurisdiction and powers as this Constitution, or Parliament
or State Assembly may, by law, provide.
(4) have jurisdiction to issue, according to law, orders in the nature of
habeas corpus, in respect of persons illegally detained within Province,
and orders in the nature of writs of certiorari, prohibition, procedendo,
mandamus, and quo warranto against any person exercising, within Province,
any power under any law, in respect of any matter devolved to Local Councils
under the provisions of Chapter X.
(5) Judicial
Service Commission may delegate to such High Court the power to inspect and
report on the administration of any Court of First Instance within Province.