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CBV0005 OF 2000S \par (Fiji Court of Appeal Civil Action No.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 ABU0015 of 1997S) \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 BETWEEN:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 SURESH CHARAN \par ANURADHA CHARAN \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Petitioners \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 AND:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 HOUSING AUTHORITY \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par Coram:\tab }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Hon. Justice John von Doussa, Judge of Supreme Court \par Rt. Hon. Justice Sir Kenneth Keith, Judge of Supreme Court \par Hon. Justice Robert}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 French, Judge of Supreme Court}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Hearing:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Wednesday, 9th April, 2003, Suva \par \par Counsel:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 First Petitioner in Person and for the Second Petitioner \par Mr. Vijay Maharaj for the Respondent \par \par Date of Judgment: Wednesday, 9th April 2003, Suva \par Date of Reasons:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Friday, 11th April 2003, Suva \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 REASONS FOR THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard\plain \s16\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \f59\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 At the end of the petitioners\rquote oral submissions, the Court announced that the petition for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The petition did not come within s.7(3)(c) of the Supreme Court Act 1990 which the petitioners had invoked.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 We now give our reasons for that decision.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard\plain \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Mr and Mrs. Charan, the petitioners, had a house built in late 1987.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 To help pay for its construction, t hey borrowed money from the Housing Authority, the respondent. They claimed that the Authority should have withheld payment of the final part of the money to the contractor because of defects in the construction of the house.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Those defects, the Charans co nsidered, had not been rectified and on 31 March 1988 Mr Charan commenced proceedings against the contractor, t}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 he Authority and three others.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The Authority on 16}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\super\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 th}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 February 1995, after a wide array of interlocutory proceedings, applied for the proceedings (by then also in the name of Mrs Charan) to be discontinued against it. The application was based on want of prosecution.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The High Court granted that application on 13}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\super\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 th}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 September 1996.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The applicants appealed unsuccessfully against that order to the Court of Appeal and then filed applications for (1) orders setting aside the appeal judgment and directing the appeal be re-heard or (2) leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The Court of Appeal refused both applications.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The petitioners then sought special leave from this Court under s.1}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 22 (2) (b) of the Constitution.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Parliament in s.7(3) of the Supreme Court Act has provided that in civil matters (including constitutional matters) the Supreme Court must not grant special leave to appeal unless the case raises- \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 (a)\tab a far-reaching question of law; \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 (b)\tab a matter of great or public importance; \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \fi-698\li1418\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1418\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 (c)\tab a matter that is otherwise of substantial general interest to the administration of civil justice. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 In their very lengthy petition and submissions on the leave application the petitioners re-visit the detail of the matters which have been extensively con sidered in the High Court and Court of Appeal both in interlocutory proceedings and in the judgment against which they wish to appeal.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Mr Charan in his oral submission contended that the matters}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 come within}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 paragraph (c) of s.7(3). \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard\plain \s16\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \f59\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The Court of Appeal accepted Mr Charan\rquote s submissions about the three issues to be considered: whether there was an inexcusable and inordinate delay in the prosecution of the proceedings; whether the trial can any longer be a fair one; and}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 whether there was prejudice.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 These are all matters which in the end depend}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 on the particular facts and the assessments to be made of them. \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \s16\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The Court of Appeal assessed the facts relevant to those issues and made findings on each of}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 them against the appellants.}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 By its very nature that}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 process is not likely to present \'93matters of}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 substantial general interest.\'94}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \s16\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 In his oral submissions, Mr Charan contended that the Court of Appeal\rquote s disregard of the Authority\rquote s failure to serve its statement of defence was such a qualifying matter.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 The record strongly suggests that Mr Charan must have known of that defence which had in fact been}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 filed as far back as 12 May 1988.}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 But whether he did or did not, the disregard by the Court, if it occurred, does not amount to a matter of substantial general interest in the administration of civil justice.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Even in the particular circumstances of this case it does not bear in any material way on the petitioners\rquote failure, once the pleadings were completed and discovery}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 finalised, to get on with the action. \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard\plain \s16\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \f59\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 No other possible qualifying matter was raised by the applicants and the petition for special leave was accordingly dismissed. \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Hon. Justice John von Doussa \par }\pard\plain \s3\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel2\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \b\f59\fs24\ul\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 { \f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Judge of}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7746589 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Supreme Court \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Rt. Hon. Justice Sir Kenneth Keith \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Judge of Supreme Court \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Hon. Justice Robert French \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Judge of Supreme Court \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7746589 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7746589\charrsid7746589 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 Solicitors: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4475936\charrsid7746589 First Petitioner in Person \par Messrs. Maharaj Chandra and Associates, Suva for the Respondents \par }}