W. Deepthi De Silva vs. Justice N. E. Dissanayake et al. – CA WRIT/614/2021-2022

In the case between W. Deepthi De Silva (Petitioner) and, among others, Justice N. E. Dissanayake (Chairman, Administrative Appeals Tribunal) and the Secretary, Public Service Commission (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of entitlement to salary increments during a period of no-pay leave based on claimed illness, and whether the relevant administrative authorities erred in denying such increments. It was held that judicial review of Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) decisions is confined to matters of legality and not merits, and that, absent sufficient medical evidence, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s denial of increments did not warrant intervention. The principle affirmed is that the scope of judicial review over administrative decisions is limited to illegality, ir