Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse has ordered top Ministry officials to look into the personal conduct of those who are to be appointed Justice of Peace (JPs) in the future.
Kurunegala district Senior Divisional Secretary, Administration, R.M. Jayaratne told a meeting of JPs and retired public servants of the Kurunegala district at the Bingiriya Youth Training Centre recently that a considerable number of JPs countrywide had been found guilty of committing illegal and undue acts by misusing their honorary titles.
He said voluntary teachers of Sunday Dhamma schools who had performed a praiseworthy service countrywide to generate a morally-developed future generation would be offered JP posts in the future. Minister Rajapakse has approved the proposal.
Jayaratne said a JP was recently taken in for questioning by the police while selling and manufacturing illicit liquor and some JPs had committed frauds and malpractices by misusing their honorary tiles.
Some JPs were found to have charged fees for their services and it is illegal for them to charge fees from their clients as this is an honorary service.
Nearly 38 JPs have been stripped of their honorary titles following inquiries against them during the past two years, he added.
