The Civil Court has accepted a petition to stop the appointment of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) activist as a High Court judge.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), during a meeting on Wednesday, decided to appoint Mohamed Shaheed as a High Court judge.
A petition was filed in the Civil Court seeking to declare Shaheed ineligible for the post of judge because he had recently resigned from a political position.
The case was filed by Ahmed Naushad, who had also applied for the vacant position of judge in the High Court.
The JSC had fast-tracked arrangements for Shaheed's appointment after the petition was filed at the Civil Court.
The JSC, controlled by President Mohamed Muizzu, scheduled his appointment ceremony for Sunday night.
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's name is still on the PNC membership registry. He also served as a Deputy Minister of the current administration up until his application for a High Court judge.
He was Deputy Minister of Home Affairs until his resignation in July. Before that, he worked as a lawyer for five years.
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 members of a political party or hold a political position to ensure impartiality as stipulated in Article 142 of the Constitution.
