The State Opposes the Challenge to Senior Counsels and Senior Attorneys Nominations

The State has announced its opposition to the request for Judicial Review filed by Messrs. Jacques Tsang Mang Kin, Ammanah Ragavoodoo, and Avinash Renga Sunassee against the nominations of Senior Counsels and Senior Attorneys made on August 14, 2025.

The case was called on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, before Judge David Chan Kan Cheong. The Court ordered that a new summons be served to Messrs. Madan Dulloo and Rama Valayden, who were absent from the hearing.

Mr. Rajkumar Baungally, Assistant Solicitor General, specified that the request is contested on behalf of the State.

The challengers claim that the presidential decision from last August, which designated 19 lawyers as Senior Counsel and 12 attorneys as Senior Attorney, was made without a valid recommendation from the Chief Justice and without transparent criteria, in violation of the Law Practitioners Act. They seek the annulment of the decision and a stay pending the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter.

Most of the lawyers and attorneys appointed on August 14, 2025, were present in Court during Tuesday's hearing.