Leeda Violet and Others v. Vidanapathirana, Oic, Police Station, Dickwella and Others – sllr 1994 volume 3 page 377

In the case between Leeda Violet and Others (Petitioners) and Vidanapathirana (OIC, Police Station, Dickwella) and Others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of the unlawful arrest, detention, and disappearance of individuals taken into police custody. It was determined that the actions of the police, specifically the 1st Respondent’s denial of arrest and custody, constituted a violation of constitutional guarantees under Article 141 and principles safeguarding personal liberty. The holding reaffirmed that the writ of habeas corpus serves as a critical remedy against arbitrary detention and disappearance, drawing upon local legal principles and comparative international jurisprudence, including relevant Indian Supreme Court precedent. The decision emphasized state accountability f