Arushan Raninkumar vs Vengadasalm Nadarajah – CA 161/2009-2013

In Arushan Raninkumar v. Vengadasalm Nadarajah and Others, the court addressed whether the petitioner was entitled to a writ of mandamus compelling the 14th respondent to pay a 10% reward following certain collections. It was held that no specific legal right existed in favor of the petitioner, and no clear legal duty was imposed upon the Ministry of Finance to pay the said reward. The principle reaffirmed was that writs of mandamus require the establishment of a definite legal right and a corresponding duty. The decision relied on the absence of a prima facie case and statutory or contractual obligation, emphasizing that the application was unsustainable and, accordingly, notice was refused.

A.W.A. Salam J. — It was established that the writ of mandamus may only be granted where an appl