Ramasami Mangalanayagi and Raju Muthuveeran v. Ramasami Ramakrishnan and Others – APPEAL COURT NO. 35/2003-2016

In the case between Ramasami Mangalanayagi and Raju Muthuveeran (Appellants) and Ramasami Ramakrishnan, Ramasami Rajgopal, and others (Respondents), the court addressed the validity of a High Court judgment delivered after the death of one Respondent (Ramasami Ramakrishnan), without substitution of legal representatives. It was held that proceedings and judgments rendered after the death of a party, in the absence of substitution, are nullities in law. The principle reaffirmed is that the continuation of proceedings without the proper legal representative for a deceased party renders subsequent judicial acts void. Precedent from Gamaralalage Karunawathie v. Godayalage Piyasena was referenced, emphasizing the procedural requirement for substitution. As a result, the High Court’s judgment wa