Sri Lanka, April 27 -- A Supreme Court justice has today (27) recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen against a Court of Appeal ruling in a case concerning alleged deforestation and resettlement activities in forest areas near the Wilpattu reserve.

The appeal was listed before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Sampath Abeykoon, and Gihan Kulatunga. At the commencement of proceedings, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz informed court that he was stepping down from the matter due to personal reasons.

The bench accordingly directed that the appeal be taken up on September 9 before a differently constituted bench.

The original case had been filed in the Court of Appeal in 20...