Lawsuit stalls Agricultural Society’s executive election

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The Agricultural Society of T&T’s annual executive election has been temporarily postponed following emergency legal action by a presidential candidate.

On Saturday, lawyers representing Bindra Maharaj, of Sills Farmers Support Group, filed an injunction application to stop the election, which was scheduled to take place during the organisation’s annual general meeting on Sunday.

The injunction was eventually granted by Justice Avason Quinlan-Williams.

In a press release, Maharaj explained that he decided to petition the court for injunctive relief due to alleged irregularities in the election, which he attributes to the incumbent ASTT board led by President Daryl Rampersad.

Rampersad and his team are yet to respond to the allegations as the injunction application was filed ex-parte and was granted without a hearing.

“Not only is this a step in the right direction to stamp out corruption but a victory for justice,” Maharaj said.

Maharaj’s judicial review application would now have to be considered by another High Court Judge, who will determine whether he should be granted leave to pursue the case by considering whether he raised arguable grounds with a realistic prospect of success.

The judge will also decide whether to continue the injunction, which allows Rampersad and his executive to remain at the helm until it is discharged.

Rampersad was elected in January, last year, and replaced former president Dhano Sookoo, who was in charge of the organisation for well over a decade.