M.T. Mallika vs Jeevan Kumaratunga et al. – SC FR 542/2009-2021

In the case between M.T. Mallika (Plaintiff) and various State/administrative officers and ministers involved in the acquisition of land for St. Mary’s College, Veyangoda (Defendants/Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the land acquisition process—including the exclusion of the petitioner’s property—constituted a violation of Fundamental Rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The court held that the application was not filed within the mandatory one-month period required by Article 126(2), and therefore dismissed the petition. The principle reaffirmed is that strict compliance with constitutional time limits is necessary for fundamental rights applications. This decision was based on the interpretation of Article 126(2) of the Constitution and emphasized that pu