Deshapriya and Another v. Municipal Council, Nuwara Eliya and Others – sllr 1995 volume 1 page 362

In the case between the petitioners, Editor and Proprietor of “Yukthiya,” and the Municipal Council of Nuwara Eliya (represented by the Mayoress, among others), the court addressed the issue of the unconstitutional infringement of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 14(1)(a) of the Constitution. The court determined that the seizure of 450 copies of the “Yukthiya” newspaper by the Mayoress constituted executive or administrative action driven by political motivation, resulting in the unlawful suppression of an anti-government publication. The holding reaffirmed the principle that state authorities must act within constitutional limitations, disallowing the misuse of administrative power to curtail fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression. T