- as judge on leave

CN Sharma’s High Court challenge to the four-month suspension of his television licence is now in limbo as Justice William Ramlal, who was set to deliver a key ruling in the matter, has proceeded on approved leave.

Sharma’s attorneys, Nigel Hughes, Stephen Fraser and Khemraj Ramjattan wrote to the Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang earlier this week seeking an urgent intervention to secure the hearing and determination of the matter after learning that the judge was on leave as of last week.

Justice Ramlal was expected to rule yesterday on the preliminary point of whether the President could be sued in the local courts. The issue of presidential powers, which was argued extensively during the hearing, which commenced last month, will determine the immunity of the Head of State, and, ultimately, whether Sharma’s challenge to the suspension of his television licence could be heard. It also points to the President sitting and determining a complaint in which he was the subject……