Kalyani Shanthi Kumari Ranasingha vs N.Devarajan – 181/2007-2011

In Kalyani Shanthi Kumari Ranasingha Manawadu v. N. Devarajan (Director General of Buildings Department) and others, the court addressed the legality of mandating staff attendance exclusively via fingerprint scanning, particularly where an employee raised medical objections. It was held that at the time the impugned departmental circular was issued, no governing Public Administration Circular authorized such biometric attendance requirements. Subsequent developments, including the reissuance of a relevant government circular, rendered the contested departmental directive moot. The principles reaffirmed relate to the futility of granting certiorari where practical relief is overtaken by later administrative action, and the court emphasized that remedies are discretionary and not appropriate