6
S.C. 128\02
Telecommunications S-99-2000 on the basis that section 27 of the Broadcasting Act
[Chapter 12:01] was unconstitutional.
As I understand the judgment the applicant
applied to this Court, in that case, on the basis that as an individual its right to receive
and impart information was abridged by section 27 in that, that section restricted the
means of communication between individuals.
If the applicant had sought relief in
the same capacity in these proceedings, namely that as an individual, its right to
receive and impart information was being or is likely to be abridged by the impugned
sections of the Act I would have little difficulty in concluding that the applicant had
locus standi in respect of all the impugned sections. This capacity could have been
pleaded in the alternative. However, the applicant has elected to approach this Court
on the basis that it is an aspiring radio broadcaster and as such certain provisions of
the Act are likely to abridge its fundamental rights as an aspiring broadcaster. In my
view by adopting this approach the applicant narrowed its own basis for locus standi.
I might also add that where facts are common cause and the question
of whether on the admitted facts a litigant has locus standi that issue is a question of
law which need not be pleaded. Failure to raise that issue on the papers is not fatal.
The court can and indeed should apply the law to the admitted facts but whenever
possible both counsel should be given an opportunity to make submissions on the
points of law that may not have been raised on the papers or in argument.
I shall further address the issue of locus standi when I come to deal
with the specific sections that have been impugned.