G. T. D. Nishantha Kumara et al. v. J. P. Wijeweera et al. – SC FR 336/2016-2021

In the case between police officers and retired police officers (petitioners), including R.M. Buddhadasa and others, and a range of government officials and committee members (respondents), the court addressed whether the process and recommendations made by official committees—particularly the Basnayake Committee’s revision of prior Siyambalapitiya Committee recommendations—were arbitrary, ultra vires, and in violation of the petitioners’ constitutional rights under Article 12(1). The court determined that, although the committee process reflected irregularities and selective reconsideration which breached principles of natural justice, the applicants were not entitled to the relief sought. The principle reaffirmed was that not every procedural impropriety justifies the grant of relief whe