The leadership of ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has informed MPs to back the amendment bill to reduce the size of the Supreme Court bench amid a constitutional case on MP disqualification.
The amendment bill to change the composition of the Supreme Court bench from seven members to five members was proposed by Holhudhoo MP Abdul Sattar Mohamed on behalf of the government.
The majority of PNC MPs spoke against the bill at a parliamentary group meeting. But on Monday night, the PNC leadership informed MPs to support the bill.
"Since the PNC leadership has decided to support the Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act, we would like to ask all honorable MPs to support the bill during the debate stage," PNC parliamentary group leader MP Ibrahim Falah wrote in a WhatsApp message to MPs.
Some MPs who attended the parliamentary group meeting on Monday told Adhadhu that Falah expressed his support for the bill at the meeting and told MPs that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu wants them to support the bill.
"The leadership is trying to force MPs to vote in favour. Many MPs are against the bill," some ruling party lawmakers told Adhadhu.
According to the bill, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) should determine the two judges to be removed from the court.
The JSC must send the names of the judges to parliament within five days of the law coming into force.
The People's Majlis must decide on the removal of the judges within seven days. Judges can be removed by a two-thirds majority of the parliament.
The bill states that JSC does not have to look at the periods given by other laws and regulations to determine the two judges to be removed.
Judges of the Supreme Court
- Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan
- Dr. Azmiralda Zahir
- Aisha Shujune Mohammed
- Mahaz Ali Zahir
- Husnu Suood
- Ali Rasheed Hussain
- Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim
The Supreme Court, which was formed in the interim phase under the current Constitution, consisted of five judges. With the election of a new government and a new parliament, the permanent Supreme Court was formed of seven judges in 2010. However, in 2014, the number of Supreme Court judges was changed to five during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.
Former Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain and Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan were removed from the Supreme Court at the time.
But after the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) returned to power in 2019, the Supreme Court bench was changed to seven members and the existing Supreme Court was formed.
