President sends back bill on decreasing SC judges for reconsideration

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has sent back to parliament for reconsideration the bill on amendment to the Judicature Act, which would see the number of judges on the Supreme Court bench reduced from seven to five.

The bill was proposed independently by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Holhudhoo Abdul Satthar Mohamed, and was passed on February 26.

Thirteen days after the bill was passed, the President's Office said today that the bill has not been ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who instead decided to send it back to parliament for reconsideration.

The bill was passed in just two days after it was submitted to parliament, with each member being asked separately to cast their vote. Nine MPs from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against passing the bill.

The now returned bill calls for the number of judges on the Supreme Court bench to be reduced from seven to five, with two of the sitting judges to be removed within 12 days of implementation.

The bill was passed while Parliament's Counsel General Fathimath Filza had advised that it is not fair to create a situation where the JSC must deem some judges unfit for office and dismiss them.

The bill was passed at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the revocation of a Constitutional amendment regarding MPs' loss of seat through floor crossing or leaving the political party they were elected through.

JSC decided to suspend Judges HusnuSuood, Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir just fifteen minutes before a hearing in the case was scheduled. HusnuSuood has since handed in his resignation.