Husnoo to Face Supreme Court Over Flacq District’s VP

Unless a decision is made by this afternoon May 23, Minister of Local Government Anwar Husnoo or his representative will be required to appear in the Supreme Court tomorrow to explain the reasons behind the continued tenure of Kavindranath Seetohul, Vice President of the Flacq District Council, despite being voted out by his peers in a motion of censure on March 21.

The situation arose when Seetohul refused to submit his resignation and the Ministry of Local Government failed to revoke him. In response, Councillor Darmalingum Armugam, representing the village of Flacq, filed a notice of intention to sue the Ministry of Local Government three weeks ago, through lawyer Geeteeshwaree Kissoon.

A group of 15 councillors who voted in favor of the motion of censure are questioning the Ministry’s decision to maintain the status quo, allowing Seetohul to remain in office and continue receiving his allowances.

They are urging the Ministry not to rely on allegations made by a close associate of Seetohul to justify his continued tenure.

The councillors assert that Seetohul was indeed voted out by his peers on March 21 and that Chief Executive of the Flacq District Council, Dheerendra Reechaye, acted promptly by sending a letter to the Ministry on the same day, requesting Seetohul’s revocation in accordance with the Local Government Act.

Sources observed that a similar scenario may be unfolding, reminiscent of December 2023, when former Flacq District Council President Kishore Kumar Jeewooth was voted out by his peers in a motion of censure but refused to resign.

The Ministry initially refused to revoke him, prompting parliamentary intervention from representatives of Flacq-Bon-Accueil (No. 9) and Montagne-Blanche-Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est (No. 10).

Only after meeting with Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth did Jeewooth finally relinquish his post on December 28, 2023.

The situation has sparked concerns about the accountability and transparency of the Ministry of Local Government and its handling of local government affairs.

Source: l’Express