The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has decided to appoint ruling People's National Congress (PNC) activist Mohamed Shaheed as a High Court judge.
His name is still on the PNC membership registry. He also served as a Deputy Ministry of the current administration up until his application for High Court judge.
The requirements for judges include not being a member of a political party or a person involved in political activities. They must not be a political appointee or hold an elected political office.
But Shaheed was Deputy Minister of Home Affairs until his resignation in July. Before that, he worked as a lawyer for five years.
The case was filed in the Civil Court seeking to declare Shaheed ineligible for the post of judge because he had resigned from a political position.
The case was filed by Ahmed Naushad, who had also applied for the vacant position for judge in the High Court.
Shaheed previously appeared on the podiums of the now-dissolved Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and had been an activist for PPM-aligned PNC.
He has also participated in some campaign activities with President Mohamed Muizzu.
According to the Judges Act, judges must not be a member of a political party of hold a political position to ensure impartiality as stipulated in Article 142 of the Constitution.
