T.H. Bathdra v. Nawagamuwage Chitra Iranganie Mallika – CA 178/98-2012

In the case between Packiyawathi (Plaintiff-Respondent) and T.H. Bathdra, T.H. Geetha Kanthi (Defendant-Appellants), among others, the court addressed whether the plaintiff was entitled to a declaration of ownership over the property in dispute and the right to eject the defendants. It was held that the plaintiff’s title was valid and unassailable, reaffirming the principle that a deed of gift that is not accepted by the donee does not take effect in law. This decision relied on legal requirements for the validity of instruments of gift and the doctrine of estoppel, emphasizing that parties entering property as licensees are estopped from contesting the title of the licensor.

A. W. A. Salam J. — The facts established that the plaintiff’s claim of ownership was based on a valid chain of t