Weligoda Pola v. Secretary, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Teaching Hospitals and Others – sllr 1989 volume 2 page 063

In the case between Weligodapola (the Petitioner) and the Secretary, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Teaching Hospitals and other state authorities, the court addressed the issue of alleged violation of Article 12(1) of the Constitution, specifically concerning discrimination in public employment based on the mode of acquiring specialist medical qualifications. It was held that the classification adopted under General Circulars Nos. 1089 and 1389—differentiating candidates on whether their foreign qualifications were self-obtained or acquired under departmental sponsorship—was artificial, irrational, and violative of the equality guarantee. The legal reasoning reaffirmed the principle that administrative classifications for public employment must have a rational nexus to the objectives of