2 Sep 2002

Fiji government considers changes to electoral act

12:27 pm on 2 September 2002

The Fiji government is considering changes to the electoral Act after the Supreme Court ruling which saw the opposition leader, Prem Singh, lose his parliamentary seat, even though the Court of Returns had made a wrong decison.

The Supreme Court said under the Constitution, decisions of the Court of Disputed Returns could not be appealed.

The Attorney General, Qorinisai Bale, says the Supreme Court judgement suggested that three judges sit on the Court of Disputed Returns in place of one, as at present.

Mr Bale says this was to ensure that the decisions reached by the Court of Disputed Returns are thorough because of the lack of appeal rights.