-Chief Justice Palmer to hear judicial review claim by Opposition coalition against Prime Minister Manele
-Opposition coalition still with majority of 28 MPs, while government rules with 22 members
BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The High Court will today hear the case filed by the majority opposition coalition against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele regarding the current political impasse.
Chief Justice sir Albert Palmer will hear the Judicial Review Claim filed by the PFP Wing Leader, Fredrick Kologeto, challenging Prime Minister Manele’s decision not to advise the Governor General to convene Parliament despite a matured motion of no confidence sitting for a week before parliament, and all the while government ruling with a minority.
The Judicial Review claim seeks the High court’s determination and ruling on key constitutional questions relating to the convening of Parliament – whether or not the actions, or inaction, of the relevant authorities (respondents) fall within the bounds of their lawful powers and responsibilities.
Yesterday, the Island Sun tried to get a copy of the initial claim as filed by the applicant, on the basis that these are public documents and that the ‘open justice system’ requires that court officers furnished these documents to media on matters of public interest – but was declined by the High Court Registrar Myonnie Ann Tutuo.
Instead, Tutuo advised that the paper should contact the applicant’s lawyer.
The named applicants in that proceeding are Fredrick Kologeto, Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale, Leader of Independent Manasseh Maelanga, the Peoples First Party, the Solomon Islands Democratic Party, the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement, and the Solomon Islands United Party.
The named applicants are represented by their Private Lawyer, John Taupongi from the Taupongi JS Law firm.
The named Respondents in the claim are the Governor General, the Prime Minister, The Speaker of Parliament, and the Attorney General.
The matter was listed for today at 9.30am for one-hour Directions hearing at the High Court room 1, before Chief Justice Palmer.
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