The Human Rights Division 1 of the High Court denied a judicial review application submitted by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, stating that the case was an abuse of court processes and was brought before a court without legal jurisdiction.
Justice Torkornoo, who is now facing impeachment proceedings under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, filed a certiorari petition seeking to halt the proceedings. She claimed that the impeachment process violated her fundamental human rights.
The judicial review application also sought to question the legitimacy and constitutionality of the impeachment process itself. It came after three different injunction motions were dismissed by the Supreme Court, all of which attempted to suspend the procedures until applicable constitutional provisions allowing the removal of a sitting chief justice could be interpreted.
The High Court ruled that it lacked power to intervene in the case, emphasising that the application was an inappropriate use of the legal process.
The impeachment procedures against Chief Justice Torkornoo continue.
