PNG Government's SLIP Rule Application Dismissed

The Slip Rule Application challenging the Supreme Court decision of 9th December was dismissed by the same five men bench this morning in Port Moresby. 

The application was filed by Attorney General Pila Niningi believing there was a slip in the original decision of the same court, which ruled that Speaker Job Pomat's decision to recall Parliament on 17th December 2020 was unconstitutional. 

And the Court ordered Parliament to sit on 14th December 2020, which eventuated yesterday. 

The lawyers representing Attorney General and Parliament Speaker in their submission this morning, asked the Court to refer back to Section 104, subsection 3 of the Constitution, as it helps to differentiate between a Parliament sitting and meeting. 

But the opposing party, lawyer for the original applicant Peter O'Neill submitted to the bench that, the issue raised is totally new, and was not even submitted by the two interveners during the substantive hearing last week. 

After a 30 minutes adjournment, the Supreme Court decision was handed down by the five men bench, refusing to accept the interveners application of a Slip Rule Application. 

Meanwhile, Attorney General Pila Niningi after the verdict, noted that he will file another Judicial application in the coming days. 

The application will question the separation of powers by the Legislature and Judiciary.

NBC News/ PNG Today

Next : Pruaitch Thanks MPs for Nominating Him as the Alternate PM Candidate