Supreme Court rejects constitutional case submitted by Ibra

Supreme Court has today decided to not to accept the constitutional case submitted by former MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) where he asked the court to seek a path to ensure the Supreme Court is able to conduct its work, stating that the suspension of three of its judges is 'bringing the court to a halt'.

Ismail submitted the case on Sunday, stating that while the Constitution directs that the Supreme Court must always be active, the suspension of Judges has brought some of its work to a halt.

The case was filed against the Judicial Service Commission.

Ismail told Mihaaru News that the constitutional system is intertwined, and if even one of its parts fail to work, it will unravel the entire system. He said that it has now reached that stage, and asserted that the matter needs a swift resolution.

Three judges of the Supreme Court were suspended in relation to an investigation being conducted by the Anti Corruption Commission. From the three, Judge HusnuSuood later resigned, while Judges Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir still remain on suspension. The Supreme Court currently has five judges.

Ismail further said that in the case he submitted to Supreme Court, he called to lift the suspension on the judges. He stated that the suspension had been brought about against procedures by the Judicial Service Commission.

Supreme Court's registrar today decided not to accept the case. Ismail said that the registrar stated that it is not a constitutional case, but that it is unclear to him how the decision was reached.

Ismail previously submitted the case to the High Court as well. However, the High Court, too, had decided then not to accept the case.

Ismail was also the chair of the drafting committee that compiled the current Constitution.