Hougang Aunty scores another victory after AGC withdrew appeal to stop her from slapping PM.
High Court to proceed with Hougang by-election case
SINGAPORE: The High Court will proceed with the case by a Hougang resident on whether Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election in the single-seat constituency.
No date has been fixed yet.
The case was mentioned at a half-hour hearing on Wednesday in the Court of Appeal between representatives of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and Hougang resident, Madam Vellama Marie Muthu.
On March 2, Mdm Vellama, 42, had applied to the court to state that PM Lee did not have "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election.
She wanted the court to declare that the Prime Minister had to call for it within three months or "a reasonable time".
High Court Judge Philip Pillai subsequently allowed the application to be heard in open court.
The AGC appealed against this.
Mdm Vellama, represented by lawyer M Ravi, applied to strike out the appeal.
But there is no need for that now, after the AGC withdrew its appeal on Wednesday.
The question now is whether Mdm Vellama can claim costs from the AGC, as it is the party that initiated the appeal and then withdrew it.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement on the issue of cost.
It said the matter can be brought up again, pending Mdm Vellama's March 2 application, which revolves around the issue of whether the Prime Minister has "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election.
- CNA/cc
High Court to proceed with Hougang by-election case
SINGAPORE: The High Court will proceed with the case by a Hougang resident on whether Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election in the single-seat constituency.
No date has been fixed yet.
The case was mentioned at a half-hour hearing on Wednesday in the Court of Appeal between representatives of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and Hougang resident, Madam Vellama Marie Muthu.
On March 2, Mdm Vellama, 42, had applied to the court to state that PM Lee did not have "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election.
She wanted the court to declare that the Prime Minister had to call for it within three months or "a reasonable time".
High Court Judge Philip Pillai subsequently allowed the application to be heard in open court.
The AGC appealed against this.
Mdm Vellama, represented by lawyer M Ravi, applied to strike out the appeal.
But there is no need for that now, after the AGC withdrew its appeal on Wednesday.
The question now is whether Mdm Vellama can claim costs from the AGC, as it is the party that initiated the appeal and then withdrew it.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement on the issue of cost.
It said the matter can be brought up again, pending Mdm Vellama's March 2 application, which revolves around the issue of whether the Prime Minister has "unfettered discretion" in calling a by-election.
- CNA/cc
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