Stay Order Granted On High Court Rulling

A stay order has been granted by Justice John Byrne on the High Court Ruling delivered by Justice Filimoni Jitoko made earlier today, to stop all People's Charter work until he makes a final ruling in the Charter case taken up by the SDL.Interim AG Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said the application for a stay was done late this afternoon.Sayed Khaiyum said the People's Charter work continues until the case on the stay order is heard in the Court of Appeal next Thursday.Justice Jitoko had made five orders which include that the interim government of itself or by and through the defendants, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and others, their agents and/or their representatives:ONE: must stop promulgating any law, decree order, or doing or recommending anything whatsoever to alter or amend the '97 Constitution of Fiji or do anything whatsover, including changes to the electoral system, that are contrary or inconsistent with the current provision of the Constitution until the final determination of this matter.TWO: stop distributing articles, leaflets, forms, and through announcements, advertisements and publication on radio, television, newspapers and any form of media, for the purpose of securing public support for the changes to the 1997 Constitution and/or supporting and promoting the People's Charter.THREE: stop public meetings and gatherings in any part of the country or by any form of meeting whatsoever to promote and obtain support for the amendment of the constitution and the People's Charter generally until the final determination is made by the court in this case.FOUR: stop engaging and utilising civil servants and government machinery including vehicles, personnel, buildings, office equipment etc to promote and obtain support for the amendments of the 1997 Constitution and the People's Charter generally until the final determination of the court action.FIVE: stop appropriating and paying any public funds to the National Council for Building a Better Fiji, its agents and/or representatives until the final determination of the courts. Justice Jitoko has adjourned the case to 10am next Tuesday for his directions on the hearing of Qarase and SDL's Originating Summons.