The Parliament has approved Maafushi MP Hussain Riza Adam as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The 20th People's Majlis, which began with a supermajority of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), approved Riza to the JSC by 83 votes. There were no votes against him.
His brother, former Maafushi MP Ibrahim Riza, was also a member of the JSC. Ibrahim Riza died of cancer in February last year while serving in the 19th People's Majlis.
Following Hussain Riza's appointment today, the majority of the JSC is now controlled by the PNC. Riza and Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla will be officially appointed at a later date.
Lawyer Mohamed Sameer sits on the commission as a member of the President while Attorney General Ahmed Usham is also a member of the JSC.
JSC composition and existing members
- Parliament Speaker (Abdul Raheem Abdulla)
- MP representing the People's Majlis (Hussain Riza Adam)
- Member of public appointed by People's Majlis (Dr. Aminath Ummu Kulsoom appointed by the former Parliament)
- Civil Service Commission President (Mohamed Naasih)
- Attorney General (Ahmed Usham)
- Lawyer appointed by the President (Mohamed Sameer)
- Lawyer representing the legal community (Ali Abdul Latheef)
- Supreme Court Judge (Justice Husni Mubarak)
- High Court Judge (Judge Mohamed Niyaz)
- Judge from the lower courts (Judge Ali Shareef)
The Judicial Service Commission is responsible for looking into the conduct of judges, promotion, dismissal and appointment of new judges. Since the commission has political figures, there have always been allegations of political influence on the courts through the commission.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu pledged to stop political influence on the courts through the JSC, but the pledge has not been fulfilled yet. He pledged to change the composition of the commission.
