Devanesh Sharma
Encyclopedia
Devanesh Sharma is a Fiji
an lawyer
of Indian
descent. He was the president of the Fiji Law Society for one year. In his capacity as president of the law society, he made many comments on the proceedings of the interim Government, led by Frank Bainimarama
, and how the society did not agree with what the interim regime was doing.
. He attended Marist Brothers Primary School in Toorak and for his secondary education he attended Marist Brothers High School
. In school he played soccer and was a member of the school quiz and oratory teams and he also enjoys reading and writing. He later attended New Plymouth Boys' High School
in New Zealand
. After completing high school he attended Victoria University of Wellington
where he completed his law degree. Sharma was admitted to the bar in New Zealand in 1988 after he graduated from Victoria University. He returned to Fiji in 1992 and was admitted to the Fiji bar in 1993. He is one of the two partners in the law firm of R. Patel & Co. Sharma is one of the leaders of the Bar in Fiji and has distinguished himself in the civil and criminal jurisdictions. He recently successfully defended prominent Human Rights Campaigner Imrana Jalal and her husband Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia against charges brought by Fiji's Independent Commission against Corruption, an agency created after the 2006 coup.
as President of the Fiji Law Society
. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/10/10fijilive01.html
He strongly condemned the military coup
that toppled the elected government of Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase
on 5 December 2006, and criticized some of his fellow lawyers who supported or worked with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34283.shtml He dismissed as unconstitutional the swearing-in of Commodore
Frank Bainimarama as Interim Prime Minister on 5 January 2007, http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=54704 but accepted the interim Cabinet
sworn in on 8-9 January. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/10/10fijilive17.html
Sharma did not seek re-election for the post of the President of the Fiji Law Society at the Annual General Meeting held on 28 September 2007.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
of Indian
Indians in Fiji
Indo-Fijians are Fijians whose ancestors came from India and various parts of South Asia, South-East Asia and Asia itself. They number 313,798 out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji...
descent. He was the president of the Fiji Law Society for one year. In his capacity as president of the law society, he made many comments on the proceedings of the interim Government, led by Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, and how the society did not agree with what the interim regime was doing.
Early life
Sharma was born in Toorak, SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
. He attended Marist Brothers Primary School in Toorak and for his secondary education he attended Marist Brothers High School
Marist Brothers High School (Fiji)
Marist Brother's High School is a Roman Catholic all-boys high school situated in Suva, the capital of Fiji. It is a school in the Marist tradition, founded in 1949 by the order of Marist Brothers, which has had a presence in Fiji since 1844. The Catholic Marist education in Fiji is acknowledged...
. In school he played soccer and was a member of the school quiz and oratory teams and he also enjoys reading and writing. He later attended New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. It was founded in 1882 and celebrated its 125th Jubilee in 2007....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. After completing high school he attended Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
where he completed his law degree. Sharma was admitted to the bar in New Zealand in 1988 after he graduated from Victoria University. He returned to Fiji in 1992 and was admitted to the Fiji bar in 1993. He is one of the two partners in the law firm of R. Patel & Co. Sharma is one of the leaders of the Bar in Fiji and has distinguished himself in the civil and criminal jurisdictions. He recently successfully defended prominent Human Rights Campaigner Imrana Jalal and her husband Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia against charges brought by Fiji's Independent Commission against Corruption, an agency created after the 2006 coup.
2006 coup
On 9 September 2006, Sharma was elected to succeed Graeme LeungGraeme Leung
Graham Everett Leung is a Fijian lawyer and former President of the Fiji Law Society. He was also Chairman of the Electoral Commission, and was named as Judge Advocate of a Court Martial panel to retry 20 soldiers convicted mutiny in relation to the Fiji coup of 2000, but a number of complications...
as President of the Fiji Law Society
Fiji Law Society
The Fiji Law Society is the official body that registers and regulates the activity of all lawyers in Fiji. Devanesh Sharma was elected to replace Graeme Leung as President of the Fiji Law Society on 9 September 2006, and as such he holds membership ex officio on the Judicial Service Commission...
. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/10/10fijilive01.html
He strongly condemned the military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
that toppled the elected government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
on 5 December 2006, and criticized some of his fellow lawyers who supported or worked with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34283.shtml He dismissed as unconstitutional the swearing-in of Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama as Interim Prime Minister on 5 January 2007, http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=54704 but accepted the interim Cabinet
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
sworn in on 8-9 January. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/10/10fijilive17.html
Sharma did not seek re-election for the post of the President of the Fiji Law Society at the Annual General Meeting held on 28 September 2007.