Malawi Law Society Condemns The Purported Sending Of Chief Justice On Leave Pending Retirement, Says Is An Affront To Constitutionalism

The Malawi Law Society has reacted to the leave pending retirement of the Hon. Chief Justice of Malawi

This is contained in a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL) signed by Burton Chigo MHANGO and Martha Ettah KAUKONDE being its Chairman and Secretary respectively.

The Law Society which says it acted in exercise of its statutory mandate “to protect matters of public interest touching, ancillary or incidental to law.” said it “HAS NOTED the statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government concerning the purported leave pending retirement of the Hon. the Chief Justice and the implication of such public notice on the functions of and the independence of the judiciary and its apparent affront to constitutionalism.”

The Society, therefore, condemned the purported sending of the Chief Justice on leave pending retirement and urged the government to respect the country’s constitution and independence of the Judiciary.

“THE LAW SOCIETY now and hereby:-

1. EXPRESSES the strongest disapproval and condemns the manner and form the executive arm of the government has issued such a notice and/or purporting to send the Chief Justice on leave pending retirement hot on the heals of the Supreme Court decision in the elections case.

2. CALLS upon the executive arm of government to respect the constitutional order and independence of judiciary as protected by the constitution in the manner of appointment and tenure of the Chief Justice and other justices of the Supreme Court and High Court.

3. CALLS upon the executive arm of government to forthwith refrain from any attempts whatsoever to fire judges and compromise the independence of the judiciary”