Sobhani v. Chairman, Urban Council, Chilaw And Others – sllr 2006 volume 1 page 079

The case between Sobhani (Plaintiff) and Chairman, Urban Council, Chilaw and Others (Defendant) addressed the issue of whether a building permit application can be entertained in the absence of prima facie evidence of title or proof of the owner’s consent. It was held that, under the Urban Development Authority Act and its amendment (Act No.4 of 1982), the statutory requirement to provide such evidence with an application is both mandatory and reasonable. The findings established that failure to comply with this statutory criterion invalidates the consideration of the application, reaffirming the principle that administrative authorities are entitled to require strict adherence to statutory procedures. The decision reinforced the statutory authority of the UDA in regulating applications an