Commission refuses stay application for Rajendra Chaudhry

The Independent Legal Services Commission has refused the stay application on the commission’s ruling filed by suspended lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry today.

Chaudhry wanted a stay on the orders that include that he be suspended from practice as a legal practitioner in Fiji until March 2017, that he be publicly reprimanded, pay $1,000 in costs and undertake 5 hours of legal ethics training before recertification.

Independent Legal Services Commissioner Justice Paul Madigan said Chaudhry raised points that were never raised at the hearing of the matter and the grounds appear to be based on his continuing misunderstanding of the concepts of conflict of interest and discourtesy to the court.

Justice Madigan said Rajendra Chaudhry in maintaining that his conflict was a matter between him and his client to resolve, clearly displayed a misconception which is not tenable for a fit and proper person to be practicing law.

In his original affidavit, Chaudhry said he has a family and staff to support with mortgage repayments, living expenses and salaries to staff.

However, Justice Madigan said Chaudhry’s personal misfortune and that of his former staff members is a situation to be faced by any practitioner being found in default by his or her regulatory body.

He stressed that the authorities are clear that the public interest must outweigh consideration of personal hardship.


Story by: Vijay Narayan