Jayawardena v. Megasuriya and Others – sllr 1997 volume 3 page 101

In the case between Jayawardena (substituted petitioner-appellant) and Megasuriya and others (including the 1st respondent), the court addressed the validity of an eviction notice issued under the Agricultural Lands Law No. 42 of 1973, and the jurisdiction of the Magistrate regarding an eviction order relating to paddy lands. It was held that the Magistrate’s eviction order with respect to Inimage Kumbura was void ab initio due to a complete lack of jurisdiction since the evidence related solely to Lindagawa Kumbura. The findings established that, as a result, the Assistant Commissioner was authorized to issue the eviction notice under the statute. The appeal was dismissed without costs, reaffirming the principle that actions taken without jurisdiction are nullities and cannot bar the comp