The Attorney General yesterday (27) informed the Supreme Court that the Cabinet has been requested to amend the gazette notification which restricted applications for railway station master posts exclusively to male candidates.
This was revealed by Senior State Counsel Nayanathara Balapatabendi, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by two women challenging the regulation. The petitioners argued that their fundamental rights were violated by the clause in the gazette stating that “only male applicants may apply.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the petition, which seeks the removal of the discriminatory clause. The case was heard before a bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, and Justices Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Sampath Abeykoon.
The petition was filed by Ayeshani Jayawardena and Suresh Vidusha, naming the General Manager of Railways and others as respondents.
Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Attorney Nuwan Bopege submitted that denying women the opportunity to apply for these posts amounted to a violation of fundamental rights. He also requested that the Court issue an order extending the application deadline, which is set to expire on next Monday (1 September).
