The Leader of Minority has urged the national legislature not to proceed with a bill to amend the transitional constitution 2011 to incorporate the 28 states.

The President split the 10 states into 28 in a republican order early this month.

Justice Minister Paulino Wanawilla presented the bill on Tuesday, saying it was necessary to pass it to include the creation of more states.

But the Minority Leader, Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec, argues that the bill should not be discussed until the Supreme Court rules on a petition to stop the implementation of the order.

The National Alliance filed the suit last week, saying the order had no legal basis and contradicts the agreement on the resolution of the conflict.

They want the court to declare the order as invalid.

Hon Adigo, whose SPLM-DC party is a member of the alliance, says it is a norm that “anything in the court is not supposed to be debated by this house until the court takes a decision”.

After the presentation, the Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly, Manasseh Magok, referred the bill to the committee of Legislation and Legal Affairs.

Hon Magok said the two committees of Justice and Human Rights will assist in scrutinizing the bill.

He said the committees will report to the legislature within 30 days.