Velmurugu v. The Attorney General and Another – sllr 1981 volume 1 page 406

In the case between Velmurugu (Petitioner) and the Attorney-General with the 2nd Respondent (a police officer), the court addressed whether actions by state officers, including allegations of torture and unlawful arrest of the petitioner, constituted a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 11 and 13 of the Constitution. It was held that the determination of such allegations depends on the standard of proof applicable to civil cases (balance of probabilities) and the interpretation of “executive or administrative action” as directly attributable to the State. The findings underscored the necessity of sufficient evidence to establish a direct nexus between the conduct of public officers and state liability for constitutional violations. The court’s determinations have reaffirmed pri