In what could be a landmark case, RB Patel Group of Companies has taken eight municipal councils and the Central Board of Health to the court.

In High Court Civil action, the RB Patel Group wants its supermarkets to pay only one licence unlike what they are currently doing.

The eight municipal councils are Suva, Lautoka, Lami, Nasinu, Nausori, Sigatoka, Nadi and Labasa.

The RB Patel Group is seeking orders that the company only pays for the Licence Type ID 24 of the Food Safety Regulations Act and other health licence types or health licence fees in respect of its supermarkets.

Orders sought also include permanent restraints against municipal staff from demanding payments apart from the above mention licence type they wish to pay for.

Deputy State Solicitor Sangeeta Chand representing the Central Board said they would make an application to the court to strike out the matter.

Suva City Council director legal, Zulfikar Sahukhan, appeared on behalf of all the municipal councils that were named for the first call.

He said he would file responses for the Suva City Council and Lami Town Council. He said he would inform the other the councils to await advice on what their next action would be.

Mr Sahukhan said Suva and Lami would side with the Deputy State Solicitor, Ms Chand, in supporting the application for a motion to strike.

Justice Lyone Seneviratne has adjourned the matter to October 30 between which the State can file for a motion to strike out the application, and the municipalities to file their response to the orders being sought by the RB Patel Group.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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