A motion for an interlocutory injunction was brought to prevent the City of Toronto from enforcing its By-law that prohibited camping and erecting tents, structures, and shelters in City parks, City of Toronto Municipal Code, c. 608. The applicants did not challenge the validity of the By-law but sought an order to have it suspended …Read more

The applicants appealed a decision affirming the constitutionality of Brian’s Law (Mental Health Legislative Reform), 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 9. (“Brian’s Law”), which was enacted by the Ontario legislature in 2000. Brian’s Law amended the Mental Health Act (“MHA”), adding provisions that expanded criteria for involuntary committal in a psychiatric hospital and introduced community treatment …Read more

The applicants’ claim was based on s. 27(1)(b) of the Constitution – the right to sufficient food and water, which they submitted found further expression in the provisions of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 (“WSA”). Their complaint argued that farm occupiers and labour tenants, especially the applicants, lacked “access to sufficient water, basic …Read more

The applicant, Mr. Slavko Krajnc, was a professional truck driver in Celje, Slovenia. On September 29, 2003, Krajnc was deemed to have “category III work-related disability” as a result of his epilepsy, which rendered him unable to work as a truck driver. Accordingly, he had the right to be assigned to a different, more suitable …Read more

The appellant, MP, was detained and tortured by the Sir Lankan security forces because he was a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. MP subsequently moved to the United Kingdom in 2005, where he sought asylum, in 2009, on the basis that he would be at further risk of ill-treatment if he returned …Read more

This case was filed by the Secretary General of IDIRIYA, Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera. IDIRIYA is a non- profit organization advocating for disability-related access issues. The Act for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, together with the Disabled Persons (Accessibility) Regulations, No.1 of 2006, specify the manner …Read more

The Petitioners, the tobacco companies in Sri Lanka, challenged clause 40 of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Bill (“Bill”), which seeks to prohibit smoking in closed public places. It is important to mention here that a petition was earlier filed, which challenged the Bill as whole but the Court dismissed the earlier petition …Read more

The Petitioner, the mother of twins who gave birth after a Caesarian operation, conceived for the second time after six years. The Respondent was the Consultant Visiting Obstetrician and Gynecologist of the Kandy General Hospital. She received antenatal care at Hikkaduwa and later went to her sister’s house in Kundasale. However before visiting her sister …Read more

The Petitioner was arrested by the police on the mistaken identity as one “Gerrad” who was suspected of having committed a murder. The first Respondent was the Officer-in-charge of the police station while the others were subordinate officers and the 8th Respondent was the Inspector-General of Police. The Petitioner had been taken to the Wattala …Read more

The Petitioner was to construct a brick kiln close to the Respondent’s house. The Respondent complained that the smoke emitted by the brick kiln would pose a threat to the health of those in the neighborhood. The Respondent claimed that, in addition being harmful to the inhabitants of his house, the smoke would also cause …Read more

The respondents entered into a draft agreement with a leading US mining company for the exploration of phosphate deposits in Eppawela, an agriculturally developed area of great historical importance and archaeological value. The proposed area of exploration was described as land ‘initially covering 56 square kilometers’. The petitioners, residents of Eppawela, started proceedings in the …Read more

W, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs, was arrested on 30 April 1996 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acting on the second respondent’s (DIG Sumanasekera) instructions on suspicion of aiding and abetting the smuggling of illegal weapons. They purported to act under s 6(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No 48 of …Read more

The sixteen petitioners responded to a notification in the Government Gazette calling for applications for training as Assistant Medical Practitioners (AMP). All the petitioners possessed the stipulated qualifications, submitted applications in the terms of the notification and successfully sat the examination qualifying them for the training. However, before the final stage of the process, which involves …Read more

A Bill entitled ‘Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions’ was drafted in response to the increase and brutality of ‘ragging’ in educational institutions. Section 17 of the Bill defined ‘ragging’ as ‘any act which causes, or is likely to cause, physical or psychological injury or mental pain or fear or …Read more

The Appellant was the proprietor of a oil store in Colpetty. Coopering (the art of making barrels) was carried out all day and night at the store. This affected the health of the people in the vicinity. The Appellant was thus proceeded against by the Police Magistrate under S 105(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code …Read more