The deactivation of unregistered SIM cards in the main provincial centres of PNG will take place tonight.
An urgent application filed by Madang MP Bryan Kramer and 42 other “substance farmers” in his electorate, seeking to restrain NICTA deactivating unregistered SIM cards after midnight tonight has been refused.
Justice David Cannings refused the 11th hour application seeking interim injunction orders at the Waigani National Court today.
Kramer had his lawyer file the urgent application on 25 July, asking the court to restrain NICTA, Communications Minister Sam Basil and the state, from deactivating unregistered SIM cards in the urban centres from August 1st.
Kramer also asked the court to restrain them from imposing penalties against the telecommunication companies.
He filed the application as an MP and 42 other subsistence farmers in the electorate. However, he did not provide any material evidence in court from the 42 others to show the urgency of his application.
Kramer wanted the court to interpret sections 8, 9 and 12 of the Sim Card Registration regulation of 2016.
He put to court through his lawyer that the regulation imposed the duty on mobile operators to go out and register their subscribers in the rural areas.
Lawyers for NICTA, Minister Basil and the state submitted the MP gave vague claims of people suffering if their unregistered SIM cards were deactivated.
Justice David Cannings refused the injunction orders Kramer was asking from the court.
He was concerned about the last minute nature of the application, saying the issue had been in the public domain for a long time.
Justice Cannings added it was incumbent on Kramer who has special interest in the issue to take steps before the deadline of midnight tonight.