Surendra Dayal v Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and 5 others (Mauritius)

This appeal arises out of the 2019 Mauritius National Assembly election, in which the appellant (“Mr Dayal”) was an unsuccessful candidate. He challenged the validity of the election of three of his political opponents on grounds of bribery, treating and undue influence for the purpose of sections 64 and 65 of the Representation of the People Act 1958 (Mauritius) (“the Act”). His petition under section 45 of the Act was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Mauritius (the Honourable Judges Mr David Chan Kan Cheong and Mrs Karuna Devi Gunesh-Balaghee) in a judgment dated 12 August 2022. He now appeals against that dismissal with the leave of the Supreme Court.

Mauritius is a parliamentary democracy governed by a written constitution. It has 21 electoral constituencies, 20 with three members each, and one (Rodrigues) with two. Mr Dayal and the first to third respondents (“Mr Jugnauth”, “Mr Luchoomun”, “Mr Sawmynaden”) were all candidates in Constituency No. 8 (Quartier Militaire and Moka) (“the constituency”). Mr Dayal belonged to L’ Alliance Nationale (“LAN”); the first to third respondents belonged to L’ Alliance Morisien (“LAM”). The first to third respondents ranked first, second and third in the voting and so were elected; Mr Dayal ranked fifth and so was unelected. Following the election, LAM returned to form the Government, and Mr Jugnauth resumed his position as Prime Minister. That is a position that he has held since January 2017 and continues to hold. The next general election is due to take place next year, in 2024.

By the time of the appeal hearing, Mr Dayal’s challenge had narrowed to three grounds. He contends that the Supreme Court was wrong in law to dismiss the following allegations:

The sixth respondent was the returning officer for the constituency. The fourth respondent (“the ESC”) and the fifth respondent had responsibility for supervision of the general election. No criticism is made of their conduct. No concerns were drawn to their attention during the course of the election campaign of any facts or matters said to amount to bribery or treating. They appeared before the Board in order to assist on general matters relating to the background, scope and interpretation of the relevant legislation.

The Mauritius National Assembly was dissolved on 6 October 2019, and a writ of election was issued on the same day. The official election campaign period ran from 6 October 2019 to polling day on 7 November 2019.

On 1 October 2019, an annual event celebrating the United Nations International Day of Older Persons took place at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (“SVICC”) (“the SVICC event”). It was organised by the MSS, which provided free food, drink and transport for attendees (who were predominantly old-age pensioners).

Mr Jugnauth attended as “chief guest” and made a keynote speech, which was covered by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (“MBC”) and the national media generally. Mr Luchoomun and Mr Sawmynaden were present in the audience to hear it. During the course of the speech, which he personally prepared, Mr Jugnauth announced that LAM would, if elected, double the rate of monthly payment of the Basic Retirement Pension (“BRP”) from Rs 6,210 to Rs 13,500 during LAM’s next electoral mandate. He had previously announced, during his 2019-2020 budget speech on 10 June 2019, that the monthly old-age pension would increase from Rs 6,210 to Rs 6,710 as of January 2020.

Mr Dayal relies heavily on the detail of the speech, the material parts of which are therefore set out in full:

“My colleague, Ivan Collendavelloo, Deputy Prime Minister, all colleagues, ministers PPS, members of the National Assembly, members of the diplomatic corps, the Lord Mayor of the City of Port Louis, the president and all the members of the Senior Citizen Council, all distinguished guests and all elders who are here…

For our elders what we have done, and you know I have already said it in the past, I had wished that we could make the pension come at the same level with the minimum salary ie Rs 9,000. And you know, I must remind you 2014, the old age pension was 3,623 rupees and we had promised as soon as we come in power we will increase it to Rs 5,000. We kept our promise. Others were saying it could not be done, it would not be done, we kept our promise, we brought it to Rs 5,000 and the government is working. We have reached almost 5 years and we did not get any problem. On the contrary, we have improved year after year, we have further and after January you will receive a pension of 6,710 monthly. I must say, I heard the President’s speech, he said, well I agree with many things which he said but there are things which I do not agree, he said “do not touch our pension”. But I can’t do that, unfortunately for him, I can tell you that in our next mandate, next government we will double your pension, we will bring it to Rs 13,500. Now just imagine, may be among you there are surely two elders in your home, two elders, look how many are raising their hands. Two elders in a house who are over 60 years old, that will make Rs 27,000 which you will receive every month. Therefore let me tell you, you know my undertaking, you know when I give my words as we had given our word in 2014. Some people had said it cannot be, we cannot make it. We increased year by year. This is my undertaking. Rs 13,500 during our next mandate. Therefore let me finish, let me finish, I am going to tell you a very important thing…I will look after your grandchildren, your children like my children. I will take care of women, girls…I will take care of all workers in order to be able to give consideration they need in our society…we must especially look after people at the bottom of the ladder. I am already doing it, you can rely on me for the future and for our elders what I have already said I have absolutely no doubt, you know I am a man of my word, we will keep our promise and together we move, hand in hand so that progress can be continued because together everything is possible, thank you.” (emphases added)

On 15 October 2019, at a public meeting of LAM at Belle Rose, Quatre Bornes, Mr Jugnauth announced further that the rate of monthly payment of the BRP would increase to Rs 9,000 from December 2019 (and that was the increase subsequently implemented in fact). During the same speech, Mr Jugnauth also announced that police officers, firemen and prison officers would be paid a one-off performance bonus.

On 23 October 2019 Mr Jugnauth announced that the implementation of recommendations in a report by the independent public sector pay review body, the Pay Research Bureau (“PRB”), would be accelerated to January 2020. As he had identified in his budget speech on 10 June 2019, the PRB report had previously not been due for publication until October 2020, with implementation from 1 January 2021 onwards.

The October 2019 announcements in relation to BRP and public sector pay increases, and one-off performance bonuses, as set out above, all formed part of LAM’s electoral manifesto issued on 23 October 2019.

Mr Dayal issued his petition under section 45(1)(a) of the Act on 28 November 2019. He alleged that Mr Jugnauth’s announcements in relation to the BRP, acceleration of the PRB report implementation and performance bonuses for public officers amounted to bribery under section 64(1) of the Act; and that the first to third respondents were guilty of treating under section 64(2) of the Act because of the provision of mass feeding and drink at the SVICC event. Further allegations of bribery, no longer pursued, related to arrangements relating to an alleged promise to pay Rs 3billion to induce the votes of investors who had suffered financially due to the collapse of the British American Investment group. There was also an allegation that there was an abusive use of the MBC, which was said to have become the “propaganda machine” of Mr Jugnauth and “his whole team”, in order unduly to influence voters across the nation, including in the constituency. This was said to offend section 65 of the Act. Again, this allegation is no longer pursued.

The hearing before the Supreme Court took place in July 2021 and lasted some 12 days. It accommodated oral evidence from both Mr Dayal and Mr Jugnauth, alongside evidence from a large number of other witnesses. The Supreme Court made a number of central factual findings on matters relevant to this appeal.

In relation to the announcements concerning an increase to the BRP, those findings were, in summary, as follows:

The Supreme Court went on to comment that the general election took place more than a month after the SVICC event, giving old-age pensioners who had attended time to reflect and decide. It stated that the courts should be “wary” of giving the impression that it was their function to select which issues were “worth discussing” in the course of a political campaign.

The Supreme Court concluded, having regard to all the circumstances, that it had not been established on a balance of probabilities that the announcement of an increase in the BRP constituted an act of bribery under section 64(1) of the Act. It was an electoral promise contained in an electoral manifesto and made in the course of normal electoral campaigning. It was “no more, no less” than a statement of intention of a future eventual government.

In relation to the announcements concerning accelerated implementation of the PRB Report and payment of performance bonuses, the Supreme Court made similar findings, whilst acknowledging at the outset that the proposals amounted to proposals to accelerate previous plans. It went on to find, in summary:

In short, the Supreme Court again concluded that it had not been established on a balance of probabilities that acts of bribery under section 64(1) of the Act had been committed with regard to these events.

In relation to the allegation of treating, based on the provision of food (mass feeding) and drink at the SVICC event, the Supreme Court made the following findings, in summary:

In short, the Supreme Court concluded that there was no merit in the allegation that the first to third respondents had committed an act of treating under section 64(2) of the Act.

Mr Dayal’s challenge focusses on Mr Jugnauth’s activities, and primarily on Mr Jugnauth’s October 2019 announcements in relation to the BRP.

It is submitted that the terms of section 64 of the Act are “all-important”. The relevant exercise is simply to determine whether someone, in order to induce someone to vote (or abstain from voting), had promised to procure (or to endeavour to procure) money or a valuable consideration for electors. In construing the statute, full effect to the plain meaning of the words in section 64 must be given, without subtle distinction or refinement (see Simpson v Yeend (1869) LR 4 QB 626, 629 (“Simpson”)). The relevant statutory language does not use the word “corruptly”.

It is argued that the Supreme Court was therefore wrong to adopt the test identified in Ringadoo v Jugnauth [2007] SCJ 80 (“Ringadoo”) (referred to below); it should instead have applied the straightforward language of the statute.

Thus, it is said, on the basis of the facts found by the Supreme Court, the offence of bribery was made out. The speech contained a promise relating to money on a sensitive issue, contingent on a new mandate. It was made to electors as part of electoral campaigning. As it was put rhetorically, what else was Mr Jugnauth doing other than promising to endeavour to procure sums by way of an increase in the BRP in order to induce electors to vote (or refrain from voting)?

It is argued that the Supreme Court was wrong in limiting the effectiveness of section 64(1) of the Act. There was a want of recognition of the difference between an individual candidate standing for election and the political party to which that candidate belonged. The fact that pledges were repeated in a party manifesto did not dilute the original promises made. Liability for bribery under section 64 attaches to a person, not, for example, an unincorporated association such as the author of a party manifesto. Further, it is said that the Supreme Court was wrong to look for an element of bargaining. There is no requirement for any quid pro quo in the language of section 64, and the case law does not support the existence of any such requirement.

As for the allegation of treating, it is submitted that the Supreme Court failed to note the “highly significant” timing of the SVICC event, being only a few days before the dissolution of Parliament. The legislation was, it is submitted, obviously intended to forbid an event with free food and drink a few days before dissolution at which a campaigning speech was made with promises to those provided with free food and drink. Mr Jugnauth “could have secured there was no treating”.

The Act came into force on 16 August 1958. Section 45(1) provides materially as follows:

“(1)(a)…[A] petition…complaining of an undue election of a member to service in a council on the ground that:

…(ii) the election was avoided by reason of bribery, treating, undue influence, illegal practice, irregularity, or any other reason,

may be presented to a Judge in Chambers by:

(B)

any person who claims to have had a right to be returned or elected at the election to which the petition relates; or

(C)

a person who alleges he was a candidate at the election to which the petition relates.”

Section 64 of the Act provides materially as follows:

“64 Bribery and treating

(1)

Any person who-

(a)

directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf gives, lends, or agrees to give or lend, or offers, promises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any person on behalf of any elector, or to or for any other person in order to induce any elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election;…

(c)

directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, makes any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement as is mentioned in paragraph (a)…to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the return of any person as an elected member of a council or the vote of any elector at any election;…

shall be guilty of bribery under this Act.

(2)

A person who-

(a)

corruptly by himself or any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly gives or provides, or pays in whole or in part the expenses of giving or providing, any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person, or any other person, to vote or refrain from voting at such election;…

shall be guilty of treating under this Act.”

The normal principles of statutory interpretation are engaged. The words of the statute should be interpreted in the sense which best reflects their ordinary and natural meaning and accords with the purposes of the legislation. It is always necessary to consider not just the ordinary meaning of the words used but the context in which the words appear and the underlying policy of the legislation (see R (The Good Law Project) v Electoral Commission [2018] EWHC 2414 (Admin); [2019] 1 All ER 365, paras 33 and 74. Further, a statute cannot be interpreted according to its literal meaning without testing that meaning against the practical outcome of giving effect to it (see R v Committee of Lloyd’s; Ex p Moran (1983) The Times, 24 June 1983 and In re British Concrete Pipe Association [1983] 1 All ER 203 at 205).The court seeks to avoid a construction that produces an absurd result, since this is unlikely to have been intended by the legislature. Absurdity is given a very wide meaning, covering, amongst other things, unworkability, impracticality, inconvenience, anomaly or illogicality (see R v McCool [2018] UKSC 23; [2018] NI 181, para 24).

The meaning of bribery for the purpose of section 64(1) was considered by the Supreme Court of Mauritius in Ringadoo where, having reviewed the authorities, the court stated that “it [was] clear…that it [was] only mala fide act with corrupt motive that would be censored.”:

“The test may be stated as follows: A candidate does not fall foul of our electoral law against bribery where he is selling so to speak government performance or electoral programme or party manifesto to attract votes. That is normal electoral campaigning. The candidate must convince the voters why they should vote for him or his party. He will however fall foul of the law when he is involved in buying votes i.e. exchange vote for money or any other valuable considerations instead of using cogent argument to influence the voters. There must be an element of bargaining and the corrupt motive will stand out so obviously from the facts….making electoral promises or blowing one’s own trumpet during an election campaign cannot be said to be corrupt practices of bribery…There is obviously a marked distinction between blowing one’s own trumpet and calling upon the voters to continue voting for that party and bribery in the sense of gratifying or endeavouring to procure valuable consideration to the voter or putting [it] bluntly buying the votes or inducing the electors to vote for him or his party which is no doubt reprehensible and illegal…”

The Supreme Court went on to find on the facts that the Minister of Health and Quality of Life had committed two acts of bribery such as to render his election null and void. The decision was upheld on appeal (see Jugnauth v Ringadoo [2008] UKPC 50; [2009] 4 LRC 271). Although the focus of the appeal related to the relevant standard of proof (which the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council confirmed to be the civil standard), no reservation was expressed in relation to the Supreme Court’s approach to the question of bribery in section 64 as set out above.

There have been a number of decisions dealing with electoral practices and/or similar (though not identical) legislation in other jurisdictions, including the following:

As the Supreme Court commented in its judgment, these decisions can provide useful guidance though due circumspection is required, given the different legislative contexts.

The question of treating under section 64(2) was considered by the Supreme Court of Mauritius in Mamoojee v Walter [1964] MR 58. The Supreme Court rejected the contention that a candidate could be liable for corrupt treating by his agents. It stated (at p 61):

“…a person is only guilty of the offence of treating if he takes part in the commission thereof in one of the ways limitatively enunciated in those sections…No person can be guilty of the offence of treating unless he has acted corruptly in the sense given to that expression by the statutes, and he cannot have acted corruptly if he was not party or privy to the commission of the offence.”

The statutory definition makes it clear that the person must act “corruptly”; the (first) limb of section 64(2) relevant for present purposes includes the word twice. There must be corrupt intention to influence voting, and it must be shown that some person was in fact corrupted by the treating. It is relevant to consider all of the surrounding circumstances in determining whether the treating was corrupt. (See generally Schofield’s Election Law, Volume 1, 3^rd ed, (2023), (13-008 to 13-011) and Parker’s Law and Conduct of Elections (1996)(20.17 to 20.20) (as before the Supreme Court and materially the same in later editions)). By way of example, in Erlam a political dinner was held for the sole purpose of promoting the candidate four months before the mayoral election in question. There was no evidence that any guest was influenced by the hospitality. The court held that no illegal treating had occurred, relying amongst other things on the timing of the event.

Normal electoral campaigning, aptly described in Ringadoo as “the selling …[of] government performance, electoral programme or party manifesto in order to attract votes”, does not fall foul of section 64. The fact that a proposal, promise or measure to the electorate represents money or valuable consideration (and is designed to win votes) does not mean, without more, that it amounts to illegal bribery.

The purpose of section 64 is to prevent corrupt practices such as the buying of votes. It is directed at preventing private inducements to the electorate to vote by reference to arguments other than the public good. The words “in order to induce” (an elector to vote (or refrain from voting)) are central and important: there must be some quid pro quo between the conduct of the candidate and the actions of the elector, some bargain between the candidate and the elector such that money is paid (or valuable consideration conferred) to the elector in return for voting in a particular way.

Once the significance of the phrase “in order to induce” is properly understood, it can be seen that this approach does not offend the judicial remarks in Simpson that full effect to the plain meaning of the words of the statute should be given. It is not a question of drawing subtle distinctions in the language. (In any event, the remarks in Simpson were made in a very different context, where the existence of a private bargain was obvious on the facts, and in circumstances where the present issues of construction did not arise.) It is also an approach consistent with the principle of free and fair elections underpinning a sovereign democratic state and the right to freedom of expression enshrined in sections 1 and 12 of the (later) Constitution.

The fact that the word “corruptly” does not appear in the relevant (first) limb of section 64(1) (and only appears in the second limb) does not point to a contrary conclusion. Corruption in the activity envisaged under the first limb is to be inferred: the very proof of the act (of corrupt bargain) itself allows the court to draw a prima facie inference that it was done with corrupt intention. This was the approach of the Supreme Court in Ringadoo, drawing on the authority of Borough of Limerick (1869) 1 O’Malley & Hardcastle 260, where the court dealt with a provision similar to section 64(1). Mr Baron Fitzgerald there stated, at p 261:

“…where in the former part of the 2^nd section of the Corrupt Practices Act reference is made to offers and promises made before the vote is given, the legislature clearly intended the court to draw a prima facie reasonable inference from the act done as to the purpose for which it was done, leaving to the other side to rebut that inference if they could…”

Thus, the legislature did not use the word “corrupt” in those cases where the act itself afforded ground for reasonable inference that the act was done for a corrupt purpose. Only in those cases where the court should not infer the purpose simply and solely from the act had the word “corruptly” been inserted.

Such a purposive (in preference to a literal) approach to the correct interpretation of section 64(1) is all the more justified when the drafting origins of the Act are remembered. Its legislative text can be traced back to the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act 1854, some five years before the Office of Parliamentary Counsel was created. The same degree of accuracy or consistency that is found in modern statutes is not to be expected (see R (Andrews) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2015] EWCA Civ 669; [2016] PTSR 112 at paras 30 - 33). A flexible approach to interpretation, focussing even more than usual on purpose, is entirely apt.

The literal and mechanistic approach advocated for Mr Dayal would also lead to absurd results, against which there is an interpretive presumption. It would make normal political campaigning in the run-up to an election impossible, and undermine the constitutional principle of free and fair elections. It would have the effect that a candidate could never campaign on a general policy relating, for example, to taxation or social welfare, where the impact would be to confer a financial benefit on a subset of electors. Many measures announced in political meetings or party manifestos (in order to gain votes) have financial implications for particular groups of the electoral community. The Supreme Court referred by way of example to LAN’s manifesto containing proposals to remove Value Added Tax on certain products, to reduce gas and electricity prices and to increase the minimum salary as from December 2019. Equally, LAM’s manifesto contained proposals to abolish the rate levy on immovable property, to give a grant to taxi owners buying a new vehicle and to increase the subvention for tax treatment abroad.

The Board thus rejects the narrow approach to the proper interpretation of section 64(1) of the Act as propounded for Mr Dayal.

On this analysis, and as was mooted during the appeal hearing, there may be a question as to whether normal electoral campaigning engages section 64 of the Act at all. If the overall purpose of the legislation is to allow free and fair elections, then ordinary political campaigning can be said to fall outside its scope. Putting it another way, it can be said to be impossible to infer the necessary purpose to induce votes in a corrupt sense. Nevertheless, for present purposes, the Board assumes, as the Supreme Court did, that section 64 is engaged.

Whether or not there has been illegal bribery or treating will always be a question of fact and degree. In some cases, it will be obvious that bribery has taken place. A paradigm example of a private arrangement inconsistent with democratic government is Simpson (where the candidate offered privately to pay the voter remuneration if he voted for him). In others, it will be necessary to consider in some detail all the relevant facts and surrounding circumstances.

As the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council commented in Ringadoo at para 19, in practice the court is unlikely to be satisfied that there has (probably) been bribery without cogent evidence to that effect. Whilst it will always be an objective assessment to be made in the light of all of the available evidence, a court will be slow to find that a political candidate, particularly when campaigning in support of a party manifesto commitment, is guilty of bribery. Amongst other things, any other approach would be antithetical to the right of freedom of expression which is inherent in the democratic process when competing for votes and is now protected by section 12 of the Constitution.

It follows from the above that there is no hard and fast rule – or test – to be applied in determining whether an offence of bribery under section 64 has been committed. Rather, a flexible approach, tailored to the facts of each case, is required.

As Justice Brennan stated in Brown (at p 56), it is nevertheless possible to identify factors potentially relevant to the exercise of distinguishing between “private arrangements that are inconsistent with democratic government, and those candidate assurances that promote the representative foundation of our political system”. He pointed to “the precise nature of the promise, the conditions upon which it is given, the circumstances under which it is made, the size of the audience, the nature and size of the group to be benefited” as factors which might “in some instance and to varying extents bear upon the constitutional assessment”. The Board agrees.

Developing these building-blocks, the Board identifies the following (non-exhaustive) list of factors as potentially relevant to an assessment of whether an electoral promise has amounted to illegal bribery:

Adopting the approach identified above, the Board now turns to the facts of this case.

As a preliminary observation, it is difficult to identify any proper legal basis for pursuit of the petition against Mr Luchoomon or Mr Sawymynaden. They did not make the October 2019 announcements relied upon, nor (in fact like Mr Jugnauth) did they supply or manage the food or drink (or transport) for the SVICC event.

As set out above, the Supreme Court made clear findings of fact, with which there is no basis for appellate interference. In order to succeed, Mr Dayal must therefore demonstrate some material error of law.

For the reasons set out above, the mere fact that an offer or promise is made to the electorate that represents money or valuable consideration (and is designed to win votes) does not mean that an act of bribery has been committed. The Supreme Court was right to dismiss the proposition advanced for Mr Dayal to this effect. Rather, what was required was “due consideration of the surrounding facts and circumstances” in order to determine if there had been, put crudely, illegal vote-buying.

The Board does not accept that the Supreme Court in some way impermissibly elided the position of the individual candidate with that of the political party to which they belonged. Such a distinction is unreal in circumstances where no voter stood to benefit financially from the election of a single individual candidate (as opposed to the election of a particular political party to power). But in any event, a fair reading of Mr Jugnauth’s speech makes it clear that he was not making a personal commitment to provide the financial benefit in question (which he was not in a position to give in any event), but rather a commitment on behalf of his party, the LAM: see for example, the following extracts from his speech: “in our next mandate,…we will double your pension, we will bring it to Rs 13,500”…”you know when I give my words as we had given our word in 2014”…”you know I am a man of my word, we will keep our promise…”.

Having correctly identified the law, the Supreme Court was then fully entitled to conclude that bribery was not made out on the facts, essentially for the reasons that it gave. This was no more than normal electoral campaigning. Whilst in no way determinative, it is nevertheless illuminating that LAN also had a manifesto policy relating to the BRP, for example. Indeed, it too promised an increase in the rate of monthly payment to Rs 9,000 in December 2019.

The Board points in particular to the following features that support the Supreme Court’s conclusion:

As set out above, on appeal Mr Dayal relied primarily on the fact that the SVICC event took place very shortly before the dissolution of the National Assembly.

The SVICC event was, however, more than a month away from polling day. In any event, any inferences to be drawn from the timing of the event cannot assist him in circumstances where it was the MSS, and not any of the first to third respondents, which provided the food, drink and transport (even if Mr Jugnauth might have had some (unspecified) power to stop the occasion). Further, given that this was an annual celebration, with nothing “unsurprising or untoward” about any of its arrangements, attended by voters from all over Mauritius (and not just the constituency), with no evidence that any voter was in fact corrupted, the Supreme Court was fully entitled to conclude that there was no basis for any finding of illegal treating.

Given the Supreme Court’s findings of fact, there is only one possible conclusion in relation to treating, namely that none of the respondents could be said to be guilty of unlawful treating for the purpose of section 64(2) as a result of the provision of food, drink or transport at the SVICC event.

For these reasons, the Board dismisses the appeal on all grounds.