Fiji court refuses to strike out pension challenge on July 26,2011

The Fiji High Court has rejected the interim government's application to strike out a legal challenge to planned pension cuts.

Retiree David Burness, 75, is challenging the interim government's pension reform plan.

He says it will result in a 64 per cent cut to his income and a breach of his human rights.

Justice Pradeep Hettiarachchi said he was not prepared to agree to the government's request because the matter was of significant national importance.

But Justice Hettiarachchi said he was not convinced pension cuts were a human rights issue.

He gave Mr Burness' legal team 21 days to file documents relevant to the case.