SHP admin’s case adjourned

THE Supreme Court at Waigani yesterday adjourned court proceedings in relation to Southern Highlands provincial government appointed administrator Alphonse Hayabe against current acting administrator William Powi.
This was because Mr Powi’s counsel Kelly Naru was unable to appear yesterday and continue with the proceedings.
The respondants of this application are the applicants in the original proceeding filed on June 15 before Justice Salika, where Mr Hayabe is seeking a Supreme Court order to overturn a Supreme Court order granting Mr Powi the acting provincial administrator role until the substantive matter is determined over Mr Hayabe’s appointment.
The orders were made at the end of April by Deputy Chief Justice Salamoa Injia, who ordered that Mr Powi remain as acting provincial administrator pending a substantive hearing.
Mr Hayabe wants that order discharged on the basis that Justice Injia made the decision as a single sitting Supreme Court judge.
However, yesterday they could not proceed as Mr Naru had taken ill since last Friday. A lawyer from his firm Joseph Koi stood in for him and made an application seeking an adjournment.
Mr Koi told the court that due to him being told about Mr Naru’s condition, he had filed and served the application on Tuesday to the respondents.
He is seeking an adjournment for up to seven days to give time for Mr Naru to be well enough to proceed with the case as he had been instructed by the latter that he was ready to proceed.
Justice Salika adjourned the matter to the next Supreme Court sitting but advised parties that if they wanted to proceed quickly they were at liberty to seek the Chief Justice to make out a date for a special fixture.

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: