Appeal filed against Hougang by-election case decision
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Hougang resident Madam Vellama Marie Muthu (left), 42, dressed in a punjabi suit, is seen leaving the Supreme Court with her lawyer M. Ravi (right). An appeal against the High Court's ruling into whether the Prime Minister has the discretion to call a by-election was filed by lawyer M Ravi on Aug 16, on behalf of Hougang resident Madam Vellama Marie Muthu. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
The High Court's decision that it is for the Prime Minister to decide whether or not to call an election to fill a seat vacated by an elected Member of Parliament is being appealed.
The appeal was filed by lawyer M Ravi on Aug 16, on behalf of Hougang resident Madam Vellama Marie Muthu, according to a copy of the notice of appeal that was sent out on Monday.
Madam Vellama had initiated the case in March this year, after former Hougang Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong vacated his post.
High Court Judge Philip Pillai had on Aug 1 dismissed her bid to get the courts to declare that the Prime Minister does not have "unfettered discretion" in deciding whether and when to call a by-election.
