Subramaniam Suntharalingam vs. Justice Anil Gunaratne, Chairman, Administrative Appeals Tribunal – CA/WRT/0477/2019-2024

The case between Subramaniam Suntharalingam (plaintiff) and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, including Chairman Anil Gunaratne, A. Gnanathasan, G. P. Abeyakeerthie, the Attorney General, and others (defendants), addressed the issue of entitlement to exemption from the Efficiency Bar Examination and related promotion benefits. It was held that manifest error existed in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s evaluation of the petitioner’s eligibility based on age and salary step under Public Administration Circular 20/2001. The holding reaffirmed the principle that legitimate expectation arises where statutory criteria and documentary evidence are satisfied. This decision relied on examination of statutory provisions, relevant administrative circulars, and precedent, emphasizing the neces