The Attorney General’s Office has today argued in the High Court that the court cannot accept or entertain the legal challenge filed against the Registration of Political Parties Decree by the proposed Fiji Labour Party.
The matter is being heard by Justice Anjala Wati.
Lawyer for the proposed Labour Party, Anand Singh has made submissions that part of the decree breaches international conventions like the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and the Trade Union Convention.
Singh said they are not challenging the powers vested in the President, or the government of the day, but parts of the decree that he says are inconsistent.
He said his client is not saying that the whole decree is invalid but they want some matters addressed.
However, Acting Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma said this case cannot proceed as the court is established under the Administration of Justice Decree.
The decree states that no court shall have the jurisdiction to accept, hear, determine, or in any other way entertain, any challenges whatsoever including any application for judicial review by any person to the validity or legality of any decrees made by the President from April 10th 2009 and any decrees as made by the President.
Sharma said these decrees cannot be challenged as they are law whether it is interim or permanent.
Justice Wati will rule at 2.15pm Friday on whether the case should proceed in court.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Tokasa Rainima
