LONDON (Reuters) – The 2019 parliamentary election of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been upheld by a British court acting as the final court of appeal for Mauritius. This decision comes after an opposition candidate’s appeal, alleging the election was improperly obtained, was rejected.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), serving as a final court of appeal for 27 former British empire countries and territories, affirmed the 2021 ruling on the matter made by the Supreme Court of Mauritius.
Surendra Dayal, the appellant, contested for a parliamentary seat in the same constituency as Jugnauth but was unsuccessful. Dayal sought a court ruling declaring Jugnauth’s election, as well as the election of two other candidates from his political alliance, invalid due to alleged bribery and undue influence.
Following the dismissal of his petition by the Supreme Court of Mauritius, Dayal escalated the case to the JCPC. A panel of five judges heard arguments from both parties during a hearing held on July 10.
In delivering the ruling of the JCPC, Judge Sue Carr announced that the panel unanimously dismissed Dayal’s appeal on all grounds.
(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Alex Richardson)
