Supreme Court annuls Court Order to halt Border Control System project

The Supreme Court has annulled High Court’s temporary Order to halt the Border Control System project.

Supreme Court made this decision after processing the case appealed by Nexbiz.

The verdict details that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had notified Immigration Department that the Border Control System project should be put up for bidding through a Request for Proposal based on the Cabinet’s decision on this issue, before it can be resumed.

Supreme Court said that it is not compulsory for State Offices to act according to such notifications by the ACC, and that the mandate and responsibilities of the ACC stipulated in article 202 of the Constitution does not include issuing such orders.

The verdict states that the mandate of the ACC is to investigate corruption allegations against State Offices, and take action to facilitate such investigations.

According to Supreme Court, ACC should follow the Civil Procedure when investigating civil offences, and Court Orders in relation to civil offences should be obtained via the Prosecutor General; moreover, action such as terminating an agreement made between two parties should be taken within the Civil Procedure.