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\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 AT SUVA}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 CIVIL JURISDICTION}{\b\fs24\insrsid476525 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15080955 {\fs24\insrsid15080955\charrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 CIVIL ACTION NO.: HBC}{\fs24\insrsid15080955 0}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 518 OF 2003}{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 BETWEEN}{\fs24\insrsid4013543\charrsid15080955 :}{\fs24\insrsid4013543\charrsid15080955 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 NEORI TABUA}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par PLAINTIFF
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid4013543 AN}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 D}{\fs24\insrsid4013543 :
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 THE NATIVE LAND AND FISHERIES COMMISSION
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 DEFENDANT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\i\fs24\insrsid4013543\charrsid4013543 Mr. S. Valenitabua}{\fs24\insrsid4013543 : }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 For Plaintiff
\par }{\i\fs24\insrsid4013543\charrsid4013543 Mr. S. Banuve}{\fs24\insrsid4013543 : }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 For 1st and 2nd Defendants
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 DECISION ON STRIKING OUT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 ISSUE:
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The issue in this case is whether or not a litigant can challenge by a subsequent writ of summons the ownership findings by the Native Land Commission and the Appeals Tribunal set up under the provisions }{
\fs24\insrsid15080955 of the Native Lands Act Cap 133.}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par 
\par This is precisely what the plaintiff has}{\fs24\insrsid476525  embarked in this action to do.}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543  I shall set out the t}{\fs24\insrsid476525 hree declarations he is seeking}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 :
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15080955 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
A Declaration that the registration of Leleuvia as owned by Adi Litia Samanunu and her agnate descendants was acquired through fraud and after the Commission\rquote s consideration of incorrect evidence.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15080955 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
A Declaration that the registration of Leleuvia as owned by Adi Litia Samanunu was contrary to traditional ways of land ownership and as a result the said registration was incorrect and invalid.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15080955 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 An Order that the Commission\rquote 
s decision to register Adi Litia Samanunu and her agnate descendants as owners of Leleuvia be set aside and that Leleuvia be registered as owned by the Tokatoka Tabutabu of Uluibau Village in the island of Moturiki.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par The defendants have filed a summons under Order 18 Rule 18}{\fs24\insrsid4013543  }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 (1)}{\fs24\insrsid4013543  }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 (a)}{\fs24\insrsid4013543  }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
(b) and (d) for plaintiff\rquote s claim to be struck out as it discloses no reasonable cause of action, it is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious and it is an abus}{\fs24\insrsid4013543 e of the process of the court. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The attack mounted by the defendants in support of its summons is on legal grounds.
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid4013543 STATUTORY PROVISIONS \endash  }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 PROPER FORUM \endash  HIGH COURT OR NLC:
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The Native Lands Commission (NLC) is set up under Section 4 of Native Lands Act for the purpose of \'93
ascertaining what lands in each province of Fiji are the rightful and hereditary property of native owners, whether of mataqali or in whatever manner or way or by whatever divisions or subdivision of the people the same may be held\'94.
\par 
\par Under Section 6(1) it is the Commission which \'93shall institute enquiries into the title to all lands claimed by a mataqali or other division or subdivision\'94.
\par 
\par Under Section 6(5) if there is a dispute as to the ownership of any lands, the Commission shall enquire into it.
\par 
\par By these provisions the Parliament has provided for a special statutory organ to enquire into and investigate and make decisions as to title and ownership of disputed native lands.
\par 
\par Normally the sittings of the Commission are held somewhere close to the plac}{\fs24\insrsid476525 e where the land is situated. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The roko of each province in which the Commission is conducting an enquiry becomes an ex-officio member of t}{\fs24\insrsid476525 he Commission, - Section 5(1). }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
Given the nature of the enquiry which normally involves evidence of native customs and land usage and a great deal of hearsay evidence, a court of law is hardly the prope}{\fs24\insrsid476525 r forum to decide such issues. }{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 However that is precisely what the plaintiff, by the declarations he is seeking, wants the court to do \endash  for an Order that the Commission\rquote s deci
sion to register Adi Litia Samanunu and her agnate descendants as owners of Leleuvia be set aside and that Leleuvia be registered as owned by the Tokatoka Tabutabu of Uluibau Village in the island of Moturiki}{\fs24\insrsid476525 . }{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The applicants asks the court to set aside Commission\rquote s finding and substitute it with its own decision.
\par 
\par The Court cannot usurp the functions and duties vested in a sta}{\fs24\insrsid476525 tutory body by the Parliament. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The jurisdiction vested in the Commission and the Appeals Tribunal is an exclusive jurisdiction to them and is not concurrent with }{\fs24\insrsid476525 jurisdiction of the High Court.}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
 Accordingly I hold that this court is not the proper forum to decide the issue put before it.}{\fs24\insrsid15080955  }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 It is an }{\fs24\insrsid476525 abuse of process of the court. }{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 Support for this conclusion is also found in the decision of Justice Scott in the }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 State v. Native Land Commission & Others ex-parte: Pio Tikoduadua}{\fs24\insrsid15080955  
\endash  HBJ00}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 17 }{\fs24\insrsid476525 of 2002 where on page 4 he said}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 :
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15080955 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 \'93
As I see it, the first major difficulty facing the Applicants is that it is the Commission and not the High Court which is charged with r}{\fs24\insrsid10636325 esolving native land disputes. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
Even if I were satisfied that the Commission had so breached the rules of natural justice that the decisions reached had to be quashed then it would not follow that the High Court would conduct its own inquiry an
d grant declarations of the type sought by the Applicants.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid10636325 PRIVATE LAW OR PUBLIC LAW REMEDY:
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 Mr. Banuve also submitted also that these proceedings are fundamentally flawed as the plaintiff has failed to realize that it involved matters of public law and therefore judicial re}{\fs24\insrsid5777480 
view was the proper procedure. I agree.}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543  However in fairness to the plaintiff, I consider that the plaintiff knew that he would not succeed on a judicial}{\fs24\insrsid6693263  review due to the time limit. }{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The decision in the present case was made some eighteen yea}{\fs24\insrsid4550333 rs ago so delay was excessive. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
Secondly the plaintiff in its application is trying to reopen the merits of the case which is not the sphere of judicial revie}{\fs24\insrsid5777480 w which deals with due process.}{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
 In the circumstances of this case, judicial review would not have probably gone past the leave stage and the plaintiff was probably aware of it in not embarking on that route.
\par 
\par The plaintiff in his affidavit is alleging that the witnesses before the Commission defrauded the Commission by giving insufficient information to the Commission and b}{\fs24\insrsid5777480 y hiding relevant information. }{
\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The plaintiff by making these allegations and by making allegations that the Commission defrauded the plaintiff is inviting this court to examine proceedings which occurred inside the Commission to see if the d}{
\fs24\insrsid5777480 ecision was obtained by fraud. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 It is an invitation again to look in}{\fs24\insrsid5777480 to the merits of the decision. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The plaintiff must accept that there has to}{\fs24\insrsid5777480  be a finality to proceedings. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 Under Native Land Act there is provision for appeal to the Appeals Tribunal under Section 7 and the decision}{
\fs24\insrsid4013543  of Appeals Tribunal is final. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 There was an appeal to such Tribunal which had upheld t}{\fs24\insrsid4013543 he decision of the Commission. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The status of the land having being finally determined, by a proper body, this court cannot interfere with it.
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid5777480 CONCLUSION:
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4013543 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 The plaintiff h}{\fs24\insrsid2972886 as chosen the incorrect forum. }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
The proceedings by the plaintiff are therefore doomed to fail and accordingly are wholly struck out with costs.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2972886 {\b\fs24\insrsid15080955 [ }{\b\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid2972886 Jiten Singh ]
\par JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4013543 {\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid4013543 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid476525\charrsid15080955 At Suva
\par 29th April 2004
\par }}