Case Comment – Tariq Khan v. Students’ Society Of McGill University

Arising out of an application for a provisional injunction, the Superior Court of Quebec was recently tasked with considering whether certain officers of the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) sufficiently abided by the society's internal elections process.

At the end of May, the SSMU found itself defending against an injunction application after the Judicial Board of the SSMU rendered its decision to disqualify the plaintiff, Tariq Khan, from Presidency of the SSMU shortly after his election. The basis for the disqualifications were several alleged violations of the campaign process. Alleging that his rights to due process and provision of full defence were breached, the plaintiff sought to have suspended the original and appellate decisions of the elections officers and Judicial Board, respectively, as well as to be reinstated as President pending the final judgment on the hearing of the permanent injunction.