Nadi Chamber of Commerce AGM blocked by interim High Court injunction

The High Court has stopped the Annual General Meeting of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry from proceeding.

An interim injunction was granted yesterday, halting the AGM that had been scheduled for Friday evening in Nadi.

The injunction followed an application filed by former NCCI president Dr Ram Raju, who sought urgent court intervention to prevent the meeting scheduled for January 23, 2026.

Dr Raju has brought proceedings against Shalendra, the NCCI marketing manager; Lawrence Kumar, the current NCCI president; a Nadi businessman; and the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a non-profit association.

The matter was heard on Thursday, with the ruling delivered yesterday by High Court Judge Justice Sekonaia Vodokisolomone in Lautoka.

While Dr Raju sought an ex parte injunction on grounds of urgency, the court found that such an order was not necessary and converted the application into an inter partes injunction.

In its ruling, the court stressed that parties involved in litigation must respect the judicial process, particularly in matters that are ongoing and awaiting judgment.

The court advised both parties to exercise patience when dealing with issues already before the court and under its consideration.

It also noted that it would ensure all council members have their constitutional rights respected and that any members dismissed due to their association with the plaintiff are given an opportunity to be heard on allegations made against them.

In its reasoning, the court referred to Lord Diplock’s principles in American Cyanamid, which set out the test for granting interlocutory injunctions, including whether damages would be an adequate remedy and whether parties are able to honour undertakings as to damages.

The court ordered that costs of the application be reserved for final determination of the matter.