HEARING of the applications by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member Zulfikar Mustapha in the ‘Local Government Elections cases’ has been adjourned to May 6, 2016, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has said.Speaking at a press conference held at his Carmichael Street office last week, Minister Williams noted that he attended the Court of Chief Justice (ag) Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards on April 20, for the hearing of the application by Mustapha, after it was adjourned by Justice Diane Insanally on April 6.

However, upon arrival at the Chief Justice’s Chambers, he was informed by her clerk that the matters were reassigned to Justice Insanally.

“The matters were called in the Chambers of Justice Insanally, who stated that she (had) re-sent the file to the Chief Justice. Justice Insanally stated that the file was returned to the Chief Justice on the basis that the Chancellor of the Judiciary instructed her to deal only with the orders nisi on the matters and return same to the Chief Justice,” the Legal Affairs Minister said.

He also noted that Justice Insanally stated “unequivocally” that she found it very unusual and suspicious that counsel for the applicant, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, approached the Chancellor for his advice on how to proceed with the matter.

The known procedure, according to Minister Williams, is that prerogative writs are heard by the Bail Court Judge in the absence of the Chief Justice.

“According to Justice Insanally, she felt ‘forum-shopped’ and that the matter was purposely placed before her,” Williams said. However, he noted that Justice Insanally granted the respondents seven days to file the affidavits in answer, and seven days thereafter to file affidavits in response. The cases were adjourned to May 6 at 09:00 hrs.