Court to decide on best action for impasse cases

By ANGELINE KARIUS
THE Supreme Court will today decide on how best to deal with cases relating to the recent political developments in the country.
The cases include constitutional references and national court cases filed by various parties.
Yesterday, a three-man bench headed by Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, Bernard Sakora and Nicolas Kirriwom discussed the cases with  senior lawyers who took carriage of the proceedings.
The court yesterday discussed with the parties through their lawyers ways of  organising the cases properly to ensure their speedy hearings.
The cases include a reference by East Sepik provincial executive council, reference by Dr Allan Marat, application by Sir Michael Somare, Fred Yakasa vs Tom Kulunga, Hudson Ramatlap vs Allan Marat, Joseph Klapat vs NEC, Graham Leslie Osborne vs Jamie Maxtone-Graham, Col Yaura Sasa vs Tom Kulunga and Tom Kulunga vs David Dotaona.
The judges will decide on the best way to deal with the matters before they enter the substantive stages.
Kerenga Kua, the lawyer representing Sir Michael Somare, urged the court to rule on the question of a legitimate prime minister before other cases were being heard.
He said by doing this “it will dispose off all proceedings.”
He told the court that the central question as to who was the prime minister should be established before other cases were heard because the Dec 12 Supreme Court decision had not been complied with.
But Sakora said the court would not revisit its decision.
He said the issue could be raised in another civil proceeding to be determined – but not by the Supreme Court.