High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire has reserved a ruling on whether former president Peter Mutharika and former Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Lloyd Muhara should personally pay costs or not after the court faulted the two for trying to force Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice Edward Twea to go on leave pending retirement.

The court was hearing arguments from Mutharika and Muhara’s lawyers but also from lawyers for Malawi Law Society, Human Rights Defenders Coalition and Association of Magistrates in Malawi, who are demanding that the two should pay legal costs.

The case has been adjourned to a later date.

The case was brought to court by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), the Magistrates Association of Malawi (MAM) and the Malawi Law Society (MLS) and had Women Lawyers Association as Amicus Curiae.

High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire on August 27 faulted Mutharika and Muhara for breaching the doctrine of separation of powers when they sent Nyirenda and Twea on forced leave pending retirement.

Last week Mutharika and Muhara through their lawyers filed for defence in the case.