Paddy Marketing Board vs L.De.A. Dissanayake – CA 598/98 F -2013

The case between L. De. A. Dissanayake (Plaintiff-Respondent) and the Paddy Marketing Board (Defendant-Appellant) addressed whether the District Judge had jurisdiction to entertain the Plaintiff-Respondent’s action seeking a declaration that the Defendant-Appellant could not impose a surcharge under Section 23 of the Interpretation Ordinance. The holding established that, in view of Section 23, the District Courts are precluded from granting declaratory relief concerning acts performed by public authorities under written law. The findings reaffirmed the legal principle that courts of original civil jurisdiction lack authority to issue such declarations, as supported by statutory interpretation and relevant case law. This determination underscores the limitation on the jurisdiction of civil