Badurdeen Mohammed Rasheed v. R. M. R. S. Thilakarathne and Others – CA WRIT 0422/2019-2023

In the case between Badurdeen Mohammed Rasheed (Plaintiff) and R. M. R. S. Thilakarathne (Divisional Secretary), L. P. C. Subodini (Deputy Land Commissioner) and others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of locus standi in challenging the issuance of a government land permit to a third party, considering whether an applicant claiming a transaction regarding state land could invoke writ jurisdiction. It was held that the petitioner, not being the grantee of the state land nor authorised to undertake such transactions, lacked standing to seek quashing or issuance of government permits. The principle reaffirmed that neither possession nor claimed agreements regarding state land are sufficient to confer title, interest, or standing against the State, as established by the Land Develo