Economic and social rights in Sri Lanka
Economic and social rights in Sri Lanka Introduction Economic and social rights are not rights in the same way civil and political rights are. They should influence policy but are not legally enforceable rights and hence cannot lay a claim to constitutional recognition. Social and economic matters are best dealt with by the legislature and through democratic contestation. It would violate the separation of powers doctrine should the judiciary be given the power to enforce them and determine governmental priorities. Including economic and social rights in the Constitution gives an unelected and unaccountable group of persons the power to adjudicate claims which are best left to the legislature and the executive. Judges have no expertise to decide on economic and social issues. Evaluation of Socio Economic Rights in Sri Lanka The most fundamental critique of the inclusion of social and economic rights in constitutions is the argument ...