Sponsors of the ‘Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill’ also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill have announced a planned protest the delay in hearing the case before the Supreme Court.
Dubbed the ‘Family Values March’, the sponsors say they will demand a timetable from the Chief Justice on the hearing and determination of the case.
In an exclusive interview with TV3, a lead sponsor of the bill Sam George noted that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has become an impediment in the delivery of the case.
“We call is the Family Values March. It’s a march not targeted at the President but at the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice is becoming an impediment to the justice delivery system in this particular case,” he said on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
On the 17th of September – it was supposed to be next week Tuesday; we met with the Police yesterday and the Police said because of the voter exhibition process and a few other issues, we should move it forward; so, we agreed on September 17.
He further stated: “We’re going to petition the Chief Justice to give us a timeline for the completion of the case because we cannot continue to sit back.”
“The Chief Justice cannot determine for herself when and how she will hear the case because there was a ruling that was supposed to be given on the 17 of July.”
The Supreme Court on July 17, 2024 deferred the ruling on the request to restrain Parliament from transmitting the Anti-LGBT bill filed by Dr. Amanda Odoi, until the substantive case is heard and determined.
The five-member panel, chaired by Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo deferred the pronouncement on the application for an interlocutory injunction against the transmission of the anti-gay bill to the presidency by Parliament on Wednesday, July 17.
The Case has been adjourned indefinitely. Sam George says this is problematic.
“The Chief Justice cannot impose an injunction on parliament suo motu; it is an abuse of her powers under Article 296 of the Constitution.”
“She’s acting arbitrarily; she’s acting capriciously and maliciously, and we’d take her on for that and hold her to account for that,” he said.
