Court: Do not appoint IPA head

By ADRIAN MATHIAS
THE National Court has ordered Public Services Minister Sir Puka Temu and PNG Institute of Public Administration (PNGIPA) chairman John Kali not to appoint a new acting director of the institute pending a full hearing by the court.
This follows Temu’s appointment of Ravu Verenagi as acting director of the PNGIPA after he revoked the appointment of Yala Yatu.
Sir Puka appointed Verenagi as acting director on Aug 7 last year and advised Yatu in a letter dated Aug 8 that he had acted on recommendations from public service commission and PNGIPA governing council’s resolutions, which included conducting investigations into allegations against him.
He further advised Yatu to adhere to this new arrangement and conduct a proper hand-over take-over ceremony with the new acting director.
However, Yatu filed a review in the National Court challenging the decision and appointment of Verenagi by Temu and the PNGIPA governing council.
Yatu named Kali as first respondent, Temu as second respondent, Verenagi as third and the state as fourth respondent.
On Tuesday, the court issued interim orders restraining: 
l Respondents and their agents and associates from doing any act in any manner to appoint anyone on the position of the acting director of PNGIPA pending determination of substantive matter by court; and
l Respondents and their agents and associates from doing any act in any manner to give effect to the decisions of PNG Institute of Public Administration council made on May 17, 2012.
The court ordered plaintiff Yala Yatu to continue to act in the position of acting director of PNGIPA until further orders of the court.
The case will return to court next Monday.