Methodist Trust Association of Ceylon vs. Divisional Director of Education of Galle and Others – sllr 2019 volume 2 page 038

In the case between the Methodist Trust Association of Ceylon (Plaintiff) and the Divisional Director of Education of Galle and others, including the Minister of Education (Defendants), the court addressed whether a writ of mandamus could be issued for the divestiture of school property, notwithstanding technical objections regarding the naming of respondents and the nature of mandamus relief. It was held that the rights of the parties are determined as at the institution of the action, and technical defects in the naming or identification of respondents do not per se invalidate the application. The principle reaffirmed is that mandamus may issue against natural, juristic, or non‑juristic persons, provided legal requirements are satisfied. The decision relied on an analysis of Rule 5 of th