Weligama Multi purpose Co-Operative Society Ltd. v. Charadasa Daluwatta – sllr 1984 volume 1 page 195

In the case between Weligama Multi Purpose Co‑operative Society Ltd. and Chandradasa Daluwatta, the court addressed whether a circular, specifically Circular No. 18 issued by the Secretary of the Co‑operative Employees Commission, imposed a legally enforceable public duty to grant half a month’s salary to an interdicted officer and whether such a guideline could justify the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus. The holding established that the circular’s provisions did not amount to a statutory duty and were merely advisory, thereby not giving rise to a claim enforceable by mandamus. The principle reaffirmed was that only statutory duties or duties arising strictly under law are enforceable via mandamus, and mere administrative instructions lacking statutory backing do not suffice. Reliance was