Vindication for a man of honour and substance and a dedicated public servant. The former Solicitor General wins his High Court action declaring that his sacking by the previous government was unconstitutional.
What happens now? If justice means anything, Sharvada Sharma should be re-instated and the current SG, Ropate Green Lomavatu, should be sent back from whence he came.
Unfortunately, the judge has ruled that out, instead awarding financial damages to Sharvada Sharma for loss of income and “aggravated” damages. Which means you, the taxpayers of Fiji, will be picking up the tab for the last government’s recklessness and total lack of judgment in unlawfully removing the ousted SG in the first place. (see FBC story below) Isn’t it grand?
The local media is reporting that Sharvada Sharma stands to get $3.11-million as compensation for his long ordeal. And he deserves every cent of it.
All in all, a well-deserved victory for a decent man who has reinvented himself as an academic teaching law to students at the University of the South Pacific and whose courage and integrity has never been more needed in public life.
Congratulations, SG! Because that’s what you will always be to your supporters, including Grubsheet. For the background to this extraordinary saga, see the Grubsheet story from 2021 below about the extent to which Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum tried to destroy Sharvada Sharma’s career when he took a stand for principle.
That is terrific news!
The question is whether Rabuka and his thugs will abide by it.
Ropate will remain. Let’s not forget this government is not about fair play and chooses to play the race game when it comes to appointments so Sharma is probably disqualified simply because he’s an outsider, a vulagi.
I suspect Justice Deepti lost her job this afternoon or has been told her contract is not being renewed.
Some sense of justice still prevailing.
Khaiyum and Bainimarama are now open to more charges as this ruling basically means that they went against the constitution in suspending and terminating the Solicitor General. Ball is in AG Siromi’s court. Let’s see what happens.
There’s like 10 people, DPP Pryde, Qilihio, Keane etc
What if they all go to court when government changes? Another $30 million taxpayers money gone
Thank you grubsheet for your information.