TANZACOAL EAST AFRICA LTD VS THE MINISTER FOR ENERGY MINERALS MISC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF TANZANIA (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) AT PAR ES SALAAM MISC. COMMERCIAL APPLICATION NO. 331 OF 2015 (ARISING FROM COMMERCIAL APPEAL NO. 1 OF 2014) TANZACOAL EAST AFRICA LIMITED..................... APPLICANT VERSUS THE MINISTER FOR ENERGY & MINERALS........................................................ RESPONDENT RULING Mansoor, J: Date of RULING- 06th MAY 2016 The Applicant filed for an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of this Court by Makaramba J, delivered by Msumi DR on 08th December 2015. The Application is supported by an affidavit of Mr Gaspar Nyika, the Advocate for the Applicant. The Counsel for the respondents objected to the granting of leave stating that leave could be granted by this court only if it was satisfied that the case involved a substantial question of law which could arise for consideration of the Court of Appeal, and that the Counsel ought to have elaborated why he said in paragraph 6(a) of his Affidavit in support of the Application as to why he is saying that Hon Judge Makaramba failed to interpret or apply Section 47 (a) of the Mining Act. It was contended by Counsel Nyika, for the appellants that whenever a question of law was raised whether on interpretation or application or default of the law that by itself that question of law must rest with the Court of Appeal for consideration. The appellants in their application for leave filed in this Court questioned the correctness of the conclusion of the High Court. They asserted that the Learned High Court Judge erred in law and fact in holding that the applicant was in default of Section 47 (a) of the Mining Act 2010 by failing to note that the development of the Mining Area envisaged by section 47 (a) was subject to the programme of Mining operations which in this case did not exists; the Judge erred in law to take additional evidence to confirm whether a programme of Mining Operations existed; that the Judge erred in law and in fact by holding that the Applicant was in default of Section 47(a) of the Mining Act. There is no scope for granting leave unless two conditions are satisfied: (i) the case should involve a substantial question of law worth the consideration of the Court of Appeal; and (ii) that the grounds raised must be of issues of general importance, or novel points of law or prima facie case necessitating the intervention of the Court of Appeal. Buckay vs Holmes (1926) All ER No. 90 at page 91. The rule laid down by the Courts in various decisions is that an appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal from any judgment, decree or final order of the High Court, whether in a civil, criminal or other proceeding, if the High Court, during the stage of granting leave is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the law, and that the reasons advanced as grounds of appeal raises questions of general importance or novel points of law, and of course not issues of facts or evidence. Another, may be that, the facts of the case are suitable as a foundation for determining some question of general principle or general importance. Conversely, the fact that leave to appeal is given is not of itself an indication that the judgments below are thought to be wrong. It may well be that leave is given in order that the relevant law may be authoritatively restated in clearer terms. There is a necessity of restating the application of Section 47(a) of the Mining Act, 2010 in clear terms as shown in the grounds of the appeal stated by the applicant warranting the intervention of the Court of Appeal. This Court considers the grounds advanced by the Applicant as sufficient grounds for appeal and are fit grounds for exercising the court’s discretionary jurisdiction to grant leave to the Applicant to appeal to the Court of Appeal, as the grounds stated are grounds of novel points of law, they are grounds of issues of general importance or novel points of law necessitating the intervention of the Court of Appeal. Based on the above reasoning, the Application is therefore granted. Costs to follow the events in the appeal itself. DATED at DAR ES SALAAM this 06™ day of MAY, 2016 JUDGE 06th MAY 2016 5|Page