Gunaratna v. People’s Bank and Others – sllr 2001 volume 1 page 381

In the case between Gunaratna (petitioner) and People’s Bank and others (respondents), the court examined whether disciplinary measures imposed by the bank violated the petitioner’s fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution by subjecting him to unequal treatment compared to another employee in similar circumstances. The issue focused on whether differing punishments for employees facing similar charges constituted unlawful discrimination or were justified by differences in culpability. The findings established that distinguishing between employees for disciplinary purposes is permissible where the degree of culpability is a relevant and reasonable basis for differentiation. The holding reaffirmed that equal protection does not prohibit reasonable distinctions grounded in t