H. Wijeratne v. Design Consortium Ltd. – CA PHC APPEAL NO. 80/2005-2016

In the case between H. Wijeratne (substituted by Nalini Rupika Ranasinghe), Assistant Commissioner of Labour, and Design Consortium Ltd., the court addressed whether the Magistrate’s Court was empowered to question the validity of a certificate issued under Section 50(c) of the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act, specifically with respect to claims of employment status. It was held that the Magistrate’s consideration is statutorily limited — the validity of such a certificate may only be challenged on express grounds set out in the statute, such as jurisdiction, payment, employer liability, or particulars of the claim—not on grounds relating to the substantive employment relationship once determined by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour. The princi