Joint legal challenge by lawyers?

Kuala Lumpur: The three largest groups representing the country's lawyers will decide over the next few days whether to launch an unprecedented joint legal action to block the term extensions of the Chief Justice and the Court of Appeal President."No final decision has been reached as yet," said Ranbir Singh Sangha, president of Advocates Association of Sarawak, which hosted a biannual tripartite meeting with the Sabah Law Society (SLA) and the Malaysian Bar in Miri.

The term extensions of Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal President Zulkefli Makinudin were part of the discussions, Ranbir said.

Present at the meeting were Bar Council president George Varughese and Brendan Soh, who leads SLA.

"The three bars will communicate with each other over the next few days to decide on the next course of action," he added.

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Varughese told The Malaysian Insight that options on what steps to be jointly undertaken by the three Bars, including instituting legal proceedings in respect of the unconstitutional appointments, were explored at the meeting.

"A decision on what joint actions are to be pursued will only be determined after the three Bars have discussed the said issues with their respective council and central and executive committees," Varughese said.

On July 7, the government extended the services of Raus and Zulkefli, to three and two years respectively.

The men were appointed as additional judges to keep them in office beyond the age limit of 66 years and six months, pursuant to Article 122(1A) of the Federal Constitution.

The groups have condemned the term of extensions, calling them unconstitutional and having cause further erosion of public confidence in the judiciary.

After the meeting with the Borneo lawyers, Varughese will convene the Bar Council EGM in Kuala Lumpur next Thursday, where he expects a good turnout from among the 16,500 members.

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Varughese had said the challenge is a possibility if members are convinced it is the best course of action.

"This will be unprecedented in the Bar Council's history. We have filed a legal challenge before, but it was against the appointment of other judges. Never against a sitting chief judge," he said.

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