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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Civil Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
\par JUDICIAL REVIEW NO. 3 OF 1991
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 MOHAMMED SHAMIM}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8613416\charrsid8613416 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 s/o Mohammed Khalil
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8613416\charrsid8613416 Plaintiff
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
\par and
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 FIJI POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8613416\charrsid8613416  }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 LIMITED

\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8613416\charrsid8613416 Defendant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8613416 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
\par Mr. H.M. Patel for the Plaintiff
\par Mr. A.R. Matebalavu for the Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8613416 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 RULING}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
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This is an application by the defendant company for an extension of time within which to file and serve a Statement of Defence.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
There is also before the Court an application by the plaintiff for default judgment in this action which has a somewhat chequered history.
\par 
\par The original action was begun on the 12th of February 1991 by way of an }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 ex-parte}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208  application for leave to issue}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 judicial review proceedings.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 This was listed before }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Byrne J.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 who after some discussion with the then learned {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}counsel for the plaintiff, ordered inter alia that }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
"... this action be treated as if begun by writ"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10370833 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
\par 
\par A }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Statement of Claim}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 was then filed by the plaintiff and this along with all the papers filed in support of the plaintiff's original application for leave were served on a responsible officer of the defendant company on the 19th of February, 1991 in compliance with }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Byrne. J's}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208  order.
\par 
\par Thereafter on the 3rd of April the plaintiff filed a notice to appear in person and in that capacity on the 16th of April he sought and obtained an interim injunction which was subsequently served on the defendant company on the 18th of April.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
The injunction was extended indefinitely on the 20th of April in the absence of any appearance for the defendant company.
\par 
\par Indeed the defendant company's first "action" in this matter was to file on the 30th of April the application now before the court.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 An }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Entry of Appearance}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 was later filed on the 2nd of May.
\par 
\par Learned counsel for the defendant company in his affidavit in support of the application deposed that the plaintiff had appealed against }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Byrne. J's}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208  refusal to grant the }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
blanket' leave sought for judicial review and more particularly counsel deposed that the defendant was not properly notified of the plaintiff's action in that no }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Writ of Summons}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208  nor }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Acknowledgement of Service}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 had been provided with the plaintiff's papers as envisaged by the High Court Rules in an action begun by Writ.
\par 
\par In brief, counsel was uncertain how to make an appearance for the defendant company in the action as exemplified by his views expressed in }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 paragraph 8}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208  of his affidavit that the plaintiff ought to have commenced a "parallel" action begun by Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim.
\par 
\par There can be no doubting the power of the Court to order under }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Order 53 r.9 (5)}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 on an application for judicial review that the proceedings shall continue as if they had begun by writ. 
\par 
\par Equally a defendant who has an arguable defence to an action ought not to be lightly denied the opportunity to defend the action on its merits.
\par 
\par In this regard the defendant company has annexed a proposed }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 Statement of Defence}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 
 in which it denies amongst other things any breach of contract in the appointment of the plaintiff to act in the post of Assistant Manager }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 (Customer Office Operations)}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 .
\par 
\par It should also be noted that this is an action seeking discretionary relief in the form of declarations only and not a liquidated demand on an unpaid cheque, as such, there is no absolute "right" to judgment in default of pleadings.
\par 
\par In my view it would be an extremely strong course to adopt to grant discretionary relief in the absence of hearing a defendant who has properly applied to be heard.
\par 
\par In the circumstances I would exercise my discretion by granting the defendant company's application.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2563208\charrsid2563208  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid2563208 I therefore exte
nd the time within which to file a defence to 7 days from the date hereof with costs of $50 the plaintiff to be paid before the defence is filed.
\par 
\par Needless to say the plaintiff's application for judgment must be and is hereby accordingly dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2563208 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 JUDGE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504\charrsid8613416 
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\par At Suva,
\par 12th July, 1991.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3305504 
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