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{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI (AT SUVA)}{\author Amelia Rasovo}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo8\dy30\hr11\min26}{\revtim\yr2004\mo8\dy31\hr10\min2}{\printim\yr2002\mo5\dy20\hr12\min26}{\version3}{\edmins2}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords626}
{\nofchars3574}{\*\company Judicial Department}{\nofcharsws4192}{\vern16389}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0
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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737\charrsid2389737 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 (AT SUVA)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 CIVIL ACTION NO. HBC 170 OF 2001S
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 LEKH RAM VAYESHNOI
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 and
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 THE AUDITOR GENERAL
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 and
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Defendants
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par V. Kapadia for the Plaintiff
\par Y. Singh for the Defendants
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 DECISION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par These proceedings were begun by writ in April 2001.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 The Plaintiff\rquote 
s claim and the reliefs sought were based on his asserted right as an assistant Minister in the People\rquote s Coalition Government to occupy Government Quarters No. 108 in the Domain.
\par 
\par On 10 August 2001 the Plaintiff sought leave to file an amended Statement of Claim and the Deputy Registrar granted him leave on 19 September 2001.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 The Amended Statement of Claim was filed on the next day.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
In addition to the 5 prayers for relief originally sought the Plaintiff added the additional prayer seeking Judgment in the 
sum of $242,050.24 which he claimed represented loss of salary, allowances and emoluments for the period 15 March 2001 to 30 April 2004.
\par 
\par On 7 February 2002 the present summons to strike out the Plaintiff\rquote s claim under the provisions of RHC O 18 r 18 (1) (a) and (d) was taken out by the Defendants.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 An affidavit in support of the application by Ajay Singh was filed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 The Plaintiff filed an affidavit in opposition on 21 March.
\par 
\par On 2 May 2002 when the application came on for hearing Mr. Kapadia told me that the Plaintiff had vacated the quarters and had accepted a sum of $27,284.13 in full and final settlement of any claim that he might have \'93
against loss of salary, allowance and any other benefit against the state\'94 (see Exhibit B \'93indemnity agreement\'94 to Ajay Singh\rquote s affidavit).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Mr. Kapadia did however point out that the indemnity agreement had been endorsed by the Plaintiff with the words \'93payment accepted without prejudice and under duress circumstances\'94
.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Mr. Kapadia advised me that following these
 developments the Plaintiff was no longer proceeding with prayers 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the Claim.
\par 
\par Of the remaining prayers the first concerns notices to quit dated July 2000, August 2000, October 2000 and March 2001.
\par 
\par In support of the declaration sought paragraph 11 of}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 the amended Statement of Claim reads:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 \'93
the first, second, third and fourth notices are unlawful and not valid and proper notices and do know effectively terminate the Plaintiff\rquote s occupancy of the said quarters number 108 as the Plaintiff cont
inues to remain an Assistant Minister under S 105 (2) of the 1997 Constitution.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par It is not disputed that the Plaintiff\rquote s stood in the 2001 general election and that he is not an assistant minister in the present government.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 He has vacated quarters 108.
\par 
\par The only material purpose which Mr. Kapadia could advance for maintaining this prayer was the possibility that the Public Service Commission might make a claim against the Plaintiff for arrears of rent which might amount to $1,000.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 In view of the Indemnity Agreement and Mr. Singh\rquote 
s assurance that it was his understanding that there was no intention to make any claim for arrears of rent I do not think that the first prayer arises from a still live issue.
\par 
\par Prayer (v) sought a declaration that the Auditor General was wrong to report to Parliament that the Plaintiff was not entitled to occupy government quarters.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Mr. Singh told me that the Auditor General now conceded that he had erred in this report and that concession appears to me to resolve that matter.
\par 
\par Of the remaining prayers (vii) seeks \'93further orders and declarations as may seem just\'94 while (viii) seeks costs.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
Mr. Kapadia did not seek any other orders or declarations and none suggest themselves to me.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
An action seeking no more then costs does not seem to me to be maintainable.
\par 
\par Taking note of Mr. Singh\rquote s concessions I declare that the Auditor General erred in reporting to Parliament that the Plaintiff was not at the time entitled to occupy Government Quarters.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 In my opinion no useful purpose would be served by examining the validity of the notices to quit.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Since there is now no longer any dispute to be resolved (see }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 Ainsbury v. Millington}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737  [1987] 1 WLR 379) the application succeeds.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
The action is struck out.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2389737  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 In the circumstances there will be no order for costs.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 M.D. Scott
\par Judge
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2389737 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10765422\charrsid2389737 
\par 21 May 2002
\par }}