A group known as the United Front for a Democratic Fiji is calling on the government not to restrict any legal challenge against any decree that has been implemented from December 2006 to the first sitting of the next parliament.
The Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions which is part of the group said the draft constitution should not restrict the courts and tribunals from hearing any challenges.
FICTU General Secretary Attar Singh said these should be amended.
The draft constitution clearly states that no challenge can be made in any court or tribunal against the validity or legality of any promulgation or decree which are in force between December 5th 2006 until the date of the first parliamentary sitting under the new constitution.
It states that these laws will continue to be in force in its entirety.
For judicial proceedings, the courts will continue in existence under the Administration of Justice Decree.
It said the courts should not have jurisdiction to accept, hear or determine any matters for which the jurisdiction of the courts was excluded under the Administration of Justice Decree 2009 or any other written law.
It also said the courts cannot accept, hear or determine any proceedings which had been terminated under the Administration of Justice Decree or any other written law.
Consultations on the draft constitution will continue until the 26th of this month.
A session will be held at De Vos on the Park in Suva from 9am tomorrow.
This afternoon a team from the Attorney General’s Office is having a session with the NGO Coalition while the United Front for a Democratic Fiji is having its own session at the FTA Hall.
We are still trying to get comments from Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the issues raised by the United Front and FICTU.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
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Do not restrict legal challenges – FICTU
