D. M. S. Dissanayake vs E. M. Gunasekera – SC FR 340/2014-2024

In the case between the Petitioners (including the union of Document Assistants and the 1st Petitioner) and the Registrar General (with officers from the Ministry of Public Administration and related entities), the Court addressed whether the indefinite postponement of a promotional examination to Grade II—initiated due to an anonymous letter and a Cabinet decision—constituted a breach of fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. It was found that the postponement, rather than cancellation of the examination, amounted to a continuing violation of the Petitioners’ rights and did not render the application time-barred under Article 126(2). The holding reaffirmed the principle that ongoing administrative decisions, which perpetually deny eligibility or opportunity, can amoun