Ranasinghe Vs Rathnasiri and Others – sllr 2005 volume 1 page 315

In the case between Ranasinghe (the petitioner) and Rathnasiri and others (including the Registrar General, District Registrar, and Minister as respondents), the court addressed the issue of alleged infringement of fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution in relation to the appointment of a Registrar of Births and Deaths and Registrar of Marriages. The court held that the discretion exercised in the appointment process was consistent with relevant considerations and procedural fairness, concluding that no violation of Article 12(1) was established. This decision reaffirmed the principle that discretionary power in public appointments must be exercised based on lawful and objective criteria. Reliance was placed on constitutional provisions, with emphasis on the petitioner’