Chief Justice launches new book

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

CHIEF Justice Sir Salamo Injia formally launched a book titled Supreme Courts and National Courts Underlying Law Journal, Developments in the Underlying Law of Papua New Guinea yesterday.

During the launch, Sir Salamo said to fill in the gap for journals on underlying laws in the court, it was the first of its type to be officially published.

It would  become a reference for the courts to use, he said.

Sir Salamo said although there were limited copies, with only few authors, including him, the courts needed more journals to fill in the gaps as there were insufficient journals on the underlying laws.

“As former Chief Justice Sir Buri Kidu observed, it was difficult for the courts to be active in development of underlying laws if parties to litigation and counsel did not bring appropriate material before the courts for consideration, and this restriction had hindered the development anticipated by the act,” he said. 

“This journal and subsequent periodic publications to follow will provide counsel and parties a useful source of reference material and information on the underlying law in cases before the courts that involve development in the underlying law.

“The judges have recognised that unless a formal process of pleading is required, there will be little change from the current position in another decade.

“Hence, the judges have made the National Courts Rules (underlying law amendment) which appear in this journal,” Sir Salamo  said.