The High Court of Fiji has dismissed an appeal by Hasmukh Lal, former CEO of Pacific TAFE at the University of the South Pacific.
The case stemmed from a 2021 controversy involving the BDO Report, an investigation by a New Zealand firm into allegations of misconduct, abuse of office, and mismanagement levelled by USP Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Ahluwalia against senior executives, including Mr Lal.
The Master of the High Court had deemed the claim by Mr Lal unsustainable, striking it out as it lacked a reasonable cause of action.
Mr Lal’s appeal, heard on June 30, 2025, listed 11 grounds, including errors in applying vicarious liability, non-delegable duty, and natural justice.
Justice Penijamini Lomaloma noted in his July 9 ruling that USP’s Council had protected the report’s confidentiality, with no authorized breach.
Justice Lomaloma concluded that Mr Lal’s claim was fundamentally flawed, weak, and unamendable.
The appeal was dismissed, with USP awarded $1,000 in costs.
