Centre for Environmental Justice (Guarantee) Limited v. S. J. Kahawatta – CA WRIT/21/2022-2022

In the case between representatives of Sri Lankan fishermen, associated cooperative societies, the Centre for Environmental Justice (Party A), and various senior government officials, including the Director General of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Minister of Fisheries, and high-ranking officers of the Coast Guard, Navy, Ministry of Defence, Wildlife Conservation authorities, Police, and the Attorney General’s Department (Party B), the court addressed whether writs of mandamus could be granted to compel public authorities to fulfill statutory duties in response to illegal, unregulated fishing (IUU) by Indian trawlers. The court determined that the reliefs sought were overly broad and unspecific, and that judicial orders must articulate clear and precise duties to avoid undue judicia