An investigation by the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety has found no grounds to remove Wyndham City Councillor Preet Singh from his position as a Justice of the Peace, following allegations concerning his conduct in the role. The department concluded that the matters examined did not establish a breach of the relevant legislation or Code of Conduct.
The investigation examined allegations that had raised questions about Cr Singh’s continued appointment as a Justice of the Peace. Following its assessment, the department determined there was no basis for action to remove him from the office, according to the findings reported by The Australia Today.
The outcome means Cr Singh retains his Justice of the Peace status. The department’s assessment specifically found no breach of the applicable Act or Code of Conduct in relation to the allegations considered during the investigation.
The finding is significant because Justice of the Peace appointments carry responsibilities under Victorian law, with JPs performing authorised functions for members of the public. The investigation therefore provided an avenue for the relevant authorities to assess whether the concerns raised warranted regulatory or administrative action.
Cr Singh is also a councillor at Wyndham City Council, where he has been involved in local government and community matters. His Justice of the Peace appointment is separate from his elected responsibilities as a councillor, meaning the department’s findings relate specifically to the allegations examined concerning his JP status.
The department’s conclusion does not represent a broader assessment of every issue surrounding Cr Singh or his work as a councillor. Rather, the finding is confined to the allegations examined as part of the Justice of the Peace investigation. This distinction is important when considering what the outcome does and does not establish.
The investigation follows public scrutiny surrounding Cr Singh and his position in local government. Previous reporting has noted that his JP status had remained under examination by the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety while wider controversy continued around Wyndham City Council.
The department’s decision provides a clear administrative outcome on the specific question of whether the allegations warranted removal from the JP office. Based on the investigation, authorities determined that the threshold for such action had not been met and identified no relevant breach in the matters considered.
For Cr Singh, the decision allows him to continue serving as a Justice of the Peace while also carrying out his responsibilities as a Wyndham councillor. The outcome also underlines the role of formal departmental processes in assessing allegations involving public appointments, rather than relying solely on public claims or political pressure.
The findings bring the Justice of the Peace aspect of the matter to a formal conclusion, with the department determining that no grounds existed for removing Cr Singh from the office. Any separate matters involving his council responsibilities would fall outside the scope of this particular investigation and would need to be considered through their respective processes.
