Abdul Baiz Chairman,Urban Council, Puttalam V Nawinna, Chief Minister, North Western Province and Others – sllr 2003 volume 2 page 337

In the case between the petitioner (challenging suspension from the Puttalam Urban Council) and respondents including the Minister responsible for the suspension and NAWINNA, Chief Minister, North Western Province, the court addressed whether the three-month time limit for concluding an inquiry under the Urban Councils Ordinance constituted a mandatory or directory requirement. The legal issues centered on the validity of an inquiry report submitted after multiple extensions beyond the initial period and whether such delay rendered the report and ensuing actions invalid. It was determined that the statutory time limit is directory rather than mandatory, allowing actions based on the late report. Reliance was placed on relevant precedents and statutory interpretation, emphasizing that exten