Re JAYAWARDANA.

Notary Public-Conduct of-Inquiry under s. 18 of Ordinance No. 2 of 1877 as amended by s. 2 of Ordinance No. 21 of 1900-" Offence"-" Or otherwise "-Application for writ of prohibition.

Where an information was laid under section 18 of the Ordinance No. 2 of 1877 (section 2 of Ordinance No. 21 of 1900) before a District Judge that a notary public had been concerned in several criminal cases, that he was not possessed of property, that he had writs out against him, that he was keeping himself in concealment, and that he made a false affidavit in a case in which he was defendant, and when the Judge was proceeding to inquire under section 18 into the matters alleged in the information,-

Held, on an application to the Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition against him, that such matters could not be the subject of inquiry under section 18, that the allegation that the notary was concerned in criminal cases, that he was not possessed of property, that there were writs of execution against him, and that he was keeping himself in concealment, were not " offences" against any statute or other law of Ceylon; and that though giving fa