Need to review, amend land dispute law: Court

By JAMES GUMUNO
THE Mt Hagen district court magistrate Jacinta Doa says there is a need to review and amend the Land Dispute Act.
Doa said like any other matters, there were time frames like 30-days given for any party in the proceeding to appeal if they were not satisfied with the court’s decisions.
Doa said under the Act, there is no time frame provided and appeals could be lodged anytime.
She said the loophole needs to be review and fixed so that appeals could be filed time.
Doa said this when presiding over an appeal land mediation from Tambul/Nebilyer district yesterday.
She said the appellant in this case filed his appeal after six years when the decision was made because there was no time frame stated under the Land Dispute Act for a party not satisfied to appeal against the decision.
Doa told the parties concern and others that the decision on the appeal was handed down in 2014, but since there was no time frame given, the appellant still has the right to appeal.
She told the appellant that the format he used to file his appeal was wrong and urged him to file a fresh appeal and serve the respondent.
In the meantime, he told the respondent not to develop the disputed land.