Police has filed a writ petition against the Human Rights Commission with the Court of Appeal, challenging its report on the police attack on protesting HNDA students last October.

Colombo South Division SP Predeep Panamaldeniya filed the petition, challenging the report and its recommendations, arguing that the police was not given a fair hearing.

Despite acknowledging that the protest was illegal, the Human Rights Commission gave recommendations only against the police, the petition also maintained.

It added that five commissioners have signed the report despite the fact that only one commissioner presided over the hearing.

Considering the petition, the Court of Appeal bench comprising of Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Devika Livera de Tennakoon issued notice on the commissioners of the HRC to appear before the court on February 15.

Police clashed with students on October 29, 2015, at Ward Place in a successful attempt to disperse a protest by the HNDA students backed by the Inter University Students' Federation. The HRC criticized the conduct of the police and recommended to pay compensation to several students.