The application by Lautoka Magistrate Sayed Mukhtar Shah to stop the Independent Inquiry into the Magistrates Court by Justice John Connors has been denied by High Court Judge Justice Jocyln Scutt.

In her ruling Judge Scutt stated that the leave application from Magistrate Shah for a judicial review of the appointment of Justice Connors to conduct the inquiry, and the manner in which the inquiry is being conducted, is refused and a decision on court costs will be made later.

Magistrate Shah filed the legal action as during the course of the independent inquiry into the magistrates court, serious allegations were leveled against him. Following that Justice Connors summoned Shah to appear before him to answer to the allegations.
The inquiry will now proceed and Magistrate Shah is expected to be summoned again to give his side of the story on the allegations.