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Section 311: Election and revocation of office of speaker—On 4 December 1990

Constitution · PART VI: LEGISLATURE

consolidated text (as at 2017). juris shows the text as it was consolidated; it does not confirm that this is the law in force today.

311. Election and revocation of office of speaker—On 4 December 1990 the Legislative Assembly passed a motion, pursuant to section 32 (3) (d) of the Constitution removing the Speaker from office. At the same sitting the defendant was elected Speaker. The plaintiff argued that (1) the Constitution of Mauritius (Amendment No. 2) Act 1990 relating to the removal of the Speaker contravened section 3 of the Constitution, and (2) the election of the defendant to the office of Speaker contravened section 32 (4) of the Constitution. HELD section 32 (3) (d) gives to two thirds of the members of the Assembly the absolute right to determine that they would prefer to carry on their business under the Chairpersonship of some other person. This does not deny the Speaker the protection of law. The real purport of section 32 (4) is that there should be no delay in filling the vacancy, and that the event would normally take place at the next sitting. There is nothing to prevent the replacement of the Speaker at the first sitting of the Assembly after a general election provided adequate notice has been given. Duval v Seetaram (1991). H. Vacancy

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