The legal challenge mounted by former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, on the timing of the reserved presidential election, will likely be heard late next month.

The timing of the hearing was one of the matters addressed at a pre-trial conference in the High Court yesterday morning.

The Attorney-General's Chambers was represented by Deputy Attorney-General Hri Kumar Nair, while Senior Counsel Chelva Retnam Rajah of Tan Rajah & Cheah represented Dr Tan.

It will likely be a one-day hearing, said Mr Nair.

He also said that the hearing will likely be held in the last week of June, subject to the court's calendar. The court will confirm the final date at a later time.

The court also gave directions for the filing of other affidavits.

Dr Tan's challenge centres on whether the Government's counting of the five presidential terms needed to trigger a reserved election, as spelt out in changes to the Presidential Elections Act passed by Parliament in January, is consistent with constitutional changes to the elected presidency.

Charissa Yong