Dec 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka's embattled Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake today through her law firm Neelakandan & Neelakandan filed a petition challenging the decision of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the impeachment motion against her.

The Chief Justice in her petition had requested the Appellate Court to issue an interim injunction order barring the recommendations set forth by the PSC's report being enacted.

The petition has cited 13 respondents including the Speaker, both government and opposition members of the 11-member PSC and the General Secretary of Parliament.

The petition has stated that the Chief Justice was not given sufficient time to prepare for her defence and was not given an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses.

The PSC found Dr. Bandaranayake guilty of the 1st, 4th and 5th charges in the impeachment motion while dismissing 2nd and 3rd charges for insufficient proof. All other charges in the motion have been disregarded.

The impeachment motion signed by 117 ruling party legislators included 14 charges of personal and financial misconduct against the Chief Justice.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he will appoint an independent committee to further study the PSC report over the impeachment charges against the Chief Justice and a fair decision would be taken by him.