By Eric Haurupma – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The Supreme Court has extended its hearing to April 6, on a joint application filed by National Housing Corporation (NHC) tenants and former Civil Aviation employees regarding home ownership.
Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, announced the adjournment at the Waigani Supreme Court in Port Moresby today.
Chief Justice Injia made this adjournment giving time for the NHC counsel to consent on the distribution of the tenant’s properties.
Counsel for the first respondent, NHC, and second respondent, PNG Air Services, filed submissions arguing on the legal grounds that they should not be entitled to have home ownership over any properties within the Granville area, including Jackson’s International Airport, as it belongs to the National Airports Corporation or the Civil Aviation Services Authority.
However, the appellant counsel, Nobert Kubak of Kubak Lawyers filed an appeal to the Supreme Court staying a previous National Court ruling by Justice Terence Higgins in favour of the tenants, while effecting the orders granted by Justice Nicolas Kirriwom to proceed with the hearing.
The court heard that the tenants signed a tenancy agreement with the National Housing Corporation incorporated under the National Housing Corporation Act 1990.
The appellant’s counsel argued on issues that there was no proper distribution of properties owned by these tenants simultaneously denying the National Housing Corporation as not a party to this agreement.
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