Woman sues Integrity Commission

A SAN FERNANDO housewife has challenged the decision of the Integrity Commission to exempt High Court judges and magistrates from filing declarations of income, assets and liabilities. Geeta Ramdhan of Harris Street, San Fernando, filed the claim in the San Fernando Court Office, in which she claimed that the commission has acted ultra vires to exempt judges and magistrates under the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000. One of the grounds on which Ramdhan based her application contends that the commission must examine and retain all declarations filed with it under the act. It must also investigate complaints regarding any alleged breaches of the act.

Ramdhan is contending that the decision of the commission to exempt judges and magistrates is contrary to law. The Integrity Commission, the applicant contends, has acted in excess of its jurisdiction. The judicial review application was filed by attorney Anand Ramlogan. In an affidavit, Ramdhan stated that following a recent ruling of High Court judge Judith Jones to exempt holders of specified public offices, she obtained a copy of the judgment from Fyzabad United National Congress Member of Parliament Chandresh Sharma.

Ramdhan stated that she discussed the judgment with fellow members of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha. She said she detected a general sense of alarm and concern over the exemption granted by the Integrity Commission to judges and magistrates. Ramdhan noted that since the judgment, seven independent senators have petitioned to also be exempted from filing annual declarations of their income, assets and liabilities. Ramdhan said in her affidavit that she was of the view that the exemption “deprives the public of the protection of the Integrity Commission as a monitoring mechanism and independent audit, check and balance against corruption and dishonesty in public life.”