Chairman, Land Reform Commission vs Watawala Plantation Ltd. – CA PHC 26/2015-2022

In the case between Chairman, Land Reform Commission (Competent Authority) and Watawala Plantation Ltd., the court addressed whether the Provincial High Court of Nuwara Eliya possessed jurisdiction under Article 154P(6) of the Constitution to entertain a revision application against an order by the Magistrate’s Court issued under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act, particularly in light of prior Supreme Court jurisprudence limiting High Court writ jurisdiction in state land matters. It was determined that the High Court’s dismissal of the revision for lack of jurisdiction, referencing Solaimuthu Rasu, was incorrect, as revisionary jurisdiction remained unaffected. The Court of Appeal set aside the High Court’s order, reinstated the revision application, and directed the High Cour