ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Charles Ganga-Singh yesterday failed in his attempt to get an order from the Court of Appeal, staying a Supreme Court ruling that the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) had the authority to fire him from his post as legal officer.He was fired on November 18, 2002 after the BGLC board informed him that it had
irreconcilable loss of trust and confidence in him.
The board said it did not find Ganga-Singh's explanation for withdrawing a charge of illegal bookmaking against an accused man acceptable.
Ganga-Singh took the matter to court and contended at the judicial review hearing that his employment to the BGLC made him the holder of a public office.
He said under public law, the commission did not have the authority to dismiss him without adhering to the rules of natural justice.
The BGLC took a preliminary point claiming that it did not breach the rules of natural justice. It said the contract it had with Ganga-Singh was that of an ordinary employee and therefore only private law applied.
MOTION DISMISSED
Miss Justice Ingrid Mangatal upheld the preliminary point and dismissed Ganga-Singh's motion for a judicial review.
Ganga-Singh appealed the decision and applied for the judge's order to be stopped, pending his appeal which would have prevented the BGLC from filling the post.
The Court of Appeal held that it did not find anything in the judgment giving it the right to grant a stop to the decision being carried out.
