Sulochana Constructions (Pvt) Ltd. vs Janatha Estate Development Board – WRT-0575/21-2023

In the case between Sulochana Constructions (Pvt) Ltd. and the Janatha Estate Development Board and others, the court addressed the enforceability of a preliminary approval (issued by way of letters P-7 and P-8) and the extent to which such preliminary acts could generate a binding contractual obligation or create a legitimate expectation requiring the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus. It was determined that the documentation provided did not constitute an unequivocal commitment to enter into a contract, and substantive procedural requirements and questions regarding the petitioner’s true legal identity precluded the establishment of locus standi. The principle reaffirmed was that legitimate expectation, absent an unambiguous assurance giving rise to an enforceable obligation, cannot be used