Heen Menike v. The Commandant, R.D.F. Camp Andothers – sllr 1995 volume 1 page 242

The case between HEEN MENIKE (on behalf of Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Jinadasa, the detainee) and THE COMMANDANT, R.D.F. CAMP AND OTHERS concerned the disappearance of a person after arrest and detention by state authorities. The court held that exemplary costs are warranted when an individual under lawful custody vanishes, reaffirming the principle that state authorities bear strict responsibility for the safety of detainees. Reliance was placed on precedent from Sebastian M. Hongray v. Union of India and the findings of a Chief Magistrate’s inquiry implicating specific officers, underscoring that inadequate responses by authorities to habeas corpus applications necessitate both financial penalties and referral for further investigation.

S. N. Silva J. — It was determined that the case bel