Airline files motion to stay decision

National

Air Niugini Limited has filed a motion at the National Court in Waigani seeking to set aside interim orders that stayed its decision to terminate eight of its pilots.
The motion was filed on Oct 21 and was mentioned on Monday in court before Justice Colin Makail.
The court adjourned it to Monday (Dec 5).
Justice Makail told lawyers for the parties to expedite the case so that the substantive issues could be dealt with.
“Both of you (lawyers for plaintiff and defendants) should go back and prepare,” he said.
“Start preparing the review book and proceed with the substantive matter.
“I always was urging parties to expedite.
“Far too many cases are delayed because of interlocutory applications.”
The court directed lawyer Moses Murray, representing the pilots, to serve a draft index to the review book to Air Niugini Ltd and the State by today.
The sacked pilots are David Seken, ElizahYangi, Vincent Tongia, Abel Kanego, Boris Ageda, Benjamin Lopa, Norman Daniel, and Joseph Kumasi.
Air Niugini Ltd terminated their contracts based on disciplinary grounds.
They commenced a judicial review proceeding to judicially review the decision of Air Niugini Ltd to terminate them.
The court granted them leave to move their judicial review application on Oct 7 after it found that they had an arguable case.
The court also granted an interim stay to the Air Niugini’s decision to maintain the status quo and allow the pilots to go back to work with full salaries until further orders of the court.