Sanjay reckons 37 years’ practice at the Mauritian Bar. He heads a multi-disciplinary Chambers. He appears regularly before the Supreme Court, and has argued major cases before the UK Privy Council. He has assisted his clients in complex litigation, major transactions, arbitrations and high-profile criminal cases. The Full Bench of the Supreme Court commended Sanjay for his advocacy in a constitutional matter: “We were impressed by the quality and depth of his address. We wish also to commend the attention and care shown in preparing the ‘Skeleton Arguments’ which, we feel, can be considered a model.”

Sanjay is an accredited arbitrator with the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He is a former director of the State Bank of Mauritius and was also the Chairman of Air Mauritius. He also presided the African Airlines Association and served on the Board of Governors of IATA.

Sanjay was a part time lecturer of Criminal Law at, and was a member of the Board of Examiners of, the Council of Legal Education for 20 years. He now lectures Criminal Procedure and Ethics on a part time basis at the Institute for Judicial & Legal Studies (IJLS). Sanjay wrote the Mauritius Chapter of a book entitled ‘Speaking Freely’ on ‘Expression & The Law in the Commonwealth’. In his Preliminary Report on ‘Media Law & Ethics in Mauritius’ in April 2013, Geoffrey Robertson, Q.C referred to Sanjay’s book as a neat summary of the present media law.

Sanjay graduated from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) in 1983. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales, as a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 1984. His father, Somdath, was also a barrister from the Middle Temple. Sanjay was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010. In 2021, Sanjay was appointed Chairperson of the Complaints & Ethics Committee of the Mauritius Bar Association, of which he was elected Chairman in 2004.

LEGAL APPOINTMENTS

• Treasurer of the Mauritius Bar Association – 1992-1994
• Chairman of the Mauritius Bar Association – 2004
• Senior Counsel – 2010
• Chairperson of the Complaints & Ethics Committee of the Bar Council – 2021

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Founder Member & Vice-President of Friends of the Environment
• Member of the National Group of International Court of Justice – 1996
• President of the Association des Juristes de l’Océan Indien – 2006
• Director of State Bank of Mauritius Ltd  – 1997-1999
• Chairman of Air Mauritius Ltd – 2005-2009
• President of African Airlines Association – 2007
• Board Governor of International Air Transport Association (IATA) – 2008-2009

PUBLICATIONS

• ‘Speaking Freely’: book on ‘Expression & The Law in the Commonwealth’ – 2009
• Victim & Witness Protection: article in Commonwealth Law Journal, Vol. 39, No.1 – 2013
• Articles in the Bar Chronicle and in the press on constitutional and legal matters

NOTABLE CASES
Privy Council Cases 

• Jugnauth  v. Ringadoo [2008] UKPC 50
• Sugar Investment Trust v. Jeetun [2011] UKPC 47
• Beerjeeraz & Ors v. Dabee [2012] UKPC 22
• Shophold Ltd v. Mauritius Revenue Authority [2016] UKPC 12

Court of Appeal Cases 

• Stella v. Kalachand (1985) MR 170
• Municipality of Curepipe v. Sports Net (1988) MR 236
• Ghurburn & Ors v. The Queen (1990) MR 206
• Lisboa v. Municipality of Curepipe (1994) MR 87
• Saulick v. Municipality of Curepipe (1995) SCJ 253
• DPP v. Sullivan (1996) SCJ 52
• Chundunsing v. The State (1997) MR 202
• Amyss v. Amyss (1997) SCJ 241
• Police v. Alain Gordon Gentil (1998) MR 121
• Purmasing v. National Transport Corporation (1998) MR 191; [1998] PCA No. 19
• Lim Fong v. Gold Crest Hotel (1999) SCJ 47
• National Transport Corporation v. Bhunjun (2000) SCJ 274
• Sumodhee & Ors v. The State (2006) SCJ 172
• Tulloo v. The State (2007) SCJ 260
• Sookun & Anor v. The State (2010) SCJ 7
• Burtony v. Seetahul (2011) SCJ 132
• Goojrah v. Seni (2011) SCJ 150
• Rummun v. Rujub (2011) SCJ 313
• Juman v. State (2015) SCJ 320
• Varma v. Ramudhin (2015) SCJ 385

Supreme Court Cases

• Rudilla v. National Adoption Council (1991) MR 162
• Swami Auckle v. Seagull Insurance (1997) SCJ 172
• Saufhaus v. Martin (1998) SCJ 146
• Purmessur v. Municipality  of Vacoas Phoenix (1998) SCJ 47
• Captain Tasman v. Elvano Ltd (1999) SCJ 332
• Chaumière v. Government of Mauritius & Ors (2001) SCJ 155
• Maurifair Investment Ltd v. Luchoomun (2004) SCJ 89
• Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam v. Government of Mauritius & Ors (SCS 229/2005)
• Raj Dayal v. Alain Gordon Gentil (2005) SCJ 145
• Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam v. Sir Aneerood Jugnauth (2006) MR 12
• Mohabeersing v. Jaynub (2006) SCJ 28
• The Sate v. Dalziel & Mohamed Ali (SCS 4/2007)
• Dubillon v. Hervet (2007) SCJ 188
• Nathoo v. Royal Gardens (2007) SCJ 227
• Sooknah v. Central Water Authority (2009) SCJ 131
• Hurhangee v. Seeburn (2011) SCJ 348
• Veeragoo v. Central Electricity Board (2013) SCJ 64
• Pabaroo v. Varmah (2013) SCJ 197
• Kowlessur v. The State (2013) SCJ 503
• Dr Chittoo v. The University of Technology of Mauritius (2014) SCJ 323
• Lutchmeenaraidoo v. Mauritius Post & Cooperative Bank (2015) SCJ 232
• Adnath v. Mauritius Post & Cooperative Bank (2016) SCJ 283
• Mauritius Turf Club v. Parry & Ors (2016) SCJ 458
• Meetarbhan v. Kowlessur & Ors (2017) SCJ 189
• Boolell v. Independent Commission Against Corruption & Ors (2017) SCJ 226
• Top FM Ltd v. The Independent Broadcasting Authority (2020) SCJ 77
• Paul Foo Kune v. The Mauritius Turf Club (2020) SCJ 194
• Top FM v. Independent Broadcasting Authority (2020) SCJ 221

Commissions of Inquiry

Sanjay held a watching brief for Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam before the following Commissions of Inquiry:

• Commission of Inquiry into the purchase of cranes by the Cargo Handling Corporation – 2004
• Commission of Inquiry into the landfill at Mare Chicose – 2004