17 Nov 2008

Fiji Law Society disturbed at stay ruling

11:32 am on 17 November 2008

The president of the Fiji Law Society says the ruling of a permanent stay on an injunction ruling against the interim Government is disturbing.

The interim Government has acquired a court injunction that will allow the National Council for Building a Better Fiji to resume work on the People's Charter, despite the High Court ruling it must stop on Friday.

The Fiji Times reports Dorsami Naidu as saying the independence of the judiciary is crucial in a vibrant society.

He says the society is quite disturbed by what happened, after the High Court gave a decision in a matter after hearing submissions and reaching a decision based on law.

He says he was informed several hours later one of the parties, the Attorney General's Chamber, got an exparte order staying the orders of the High Court judge.

Mr Naidu says the order is is surprising and it appears exparte motions are considered a right when it comes to certain parties.