Padmini v. Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Others – CA WRIT/478/2021-2021

In the case between S. H. S. Padmini (Petitioner) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority along with its officers (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the transfer of the Petitioner from the post of Chief Human Resources Manager to Chief Training Manager, Mahapola Ports and Maritime Academy, violated the applicable employee transfer policy under Human Resources Circular No. 297 (‘P25’). It was held that the transfer did not contravene the circular or grant protections afforded exclusively to non-executive officers; the SLM-1 executive grade, to which the Petitioner belonged, was not within the scope of the circular. The court reaffirmed the principle that administrative transfers executed on genuine exigencies of service, based on proper recommendations, are not rendered unlawful