Agarapatana Plantations Limited and others vs . Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva Minister of Labour and others – CA WRIT/143/21-2021

In the case between several regional plantation companies (including Agarapatana Plantations Limited, Balangoda Plantations PLC, and Elpitiya Plantations PLC) and the Minister of Labour along with the Chairman and members of the Wages Boards, the court addressed the validity of the Wages Boards’ decision to raise the minimum daily wage in the Tea and Rubber trades to Rs. 1,000/-. It was held that the Petitioners’ application was fatally defective due to the deliberate non-joinder of all necessary parties, and for presenting misleading or incomplete documentation of the Boards’ proceedings, resulting in a breach of full and frank disclosure expected in writ proceedings. The principle reaffirmed was that all members of a tribunal whose decision is challenged must be joined as respondents and