Parliament approves dismissal of Supreme Court judges Azmiralda and Mahaz

Parliament has passed to dismiss Supreme Court judges Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir, following the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) recommendation citing proven misconduct.

According to the JSC report submitted to Parliament, both judges were found to have influenced lower court proceedings to secure the release of Dr Ismail Latheef, the husband of Judge Azmiralda. The report alleges that Judges Azmiralda and Mahaz influenced Criminal Court Judge Ibrahim Zihuny via Judge Sofwath Habeeb.

Parliamentary Committee reviewed the case and approved sending the matter to the floor for a final vote, despite concerns raised by Parliamentary Counsel General Fathimath Filza, who argued that the JSC's actions breached the constitutional principle of equal treatment under the law.

During today’s sitting, Parliament voted 68 in favor and 11 against the dismissal of each judge, passing the motion to remove both judges from the Supreme Court in separate votes.