New complaint in Supreme Court: Megh Pillay halves her claim against Air Mauritius

Following a judgment of the Supreme Court dated May 20, 2024, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Mauritius (MK), Megh Pillay, has revised her claim downward. He is now demanding the sum of Rs 19,650,561.66 from the national aviation company for “unfair breach of contract”. This, in a new complaint filed before the Supreme Court on May 27, 2024. The case will be called on June 13, 2024.

In his new complaint, the former CEO of Air Mauritius relates that he was laid off on October 28, 2016. He had been appointed head of MK on February 25, 2016. According to Megh Pillay, his contract was 'an initial duration of three years, starting March 15, 2016, with a monthly salary of Rs 750,000, plus various additional benefits.

However, on October 28, 2016, he was informed by the company secretary that the Board of Directors had decided to terminate his contract with immediate effect. The decision was confirmed to him in a letter sent on October 31, 2016. According to Megh Pillay, “no reason” was given to him for this sudden termination. This is how he filed a first complaint before the Supreme Court, on October 23, 2019, to claim the sum of Rs 39,301,123.32, which he considers to be the remuneration to which he would have been entitled until the end of his contract, scheduled for March 14, 2019.

On May 20, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that after Air Mauritius entered voluntary administration on April 22, 2020, the provisions provided for in the Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) apply to it.

However, he said, in his complaint, the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the first claim. He was given the opportunity to reduce his claim by 50% as he falls under the category of unsecured creditors of MK.

Thus, his claim was reduced to Rs 19,650,561.66.

Megh Pillay has retained the services of Mes Gavin Glover, Senior Counsel, and Me Feroza Maudarbocus Moolna, Senior Attorney.