Supreme Court "stopped", case submitted to Judicial Council

Following the Supreme Court's rejection of the constitutional case filed by former MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), which claims that the suspension of three Supreme Court justices effectively stops the court from functioning, Ibrahim has now submitted the case to the Judicial Council.

After filing the case with the Supreme Court, Ibrahim sent a letter to Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan saying that based on how the process of removing two Supreme Court justices underwent, the country could only be saved from the danger ahead by examining the constitutional issue and making a decision about it.

“I consider that at the very least, it is imperative that the Supreme Court exercise the right of the people to hear the legal questions raised in this case before the judges are removed,” the letter said.

Saying so, Ibrahim asked the court to recommend an immediate decision in the matter if possible.

Ibrahim reportedly submitted the motion to the Supreme Court because certain functions of the court had come to a stop following the suspension of the judges, despite the constitution envisioning the court to be operating continuously.

He filed the case against the Judicial Service Commission.

Ibrahim told Mihaaru News that the constitutional system is intertwined, unraveling the entire system if even one organ fails to function. The current system is in such as state, and it must be rectified, he said.

While three Supreme Court justices were suspended on the claim that there was an active investigation against them at the ACC, one of the judges, Husnu Suood resigned accusing the government of interfering with the judiciary. Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir and Dr. Azmiralda Zahir remained in suspension until their removal yesterday.

At the time of Ibrahim submitting the case to the Judicial Council, the two justices were still in suspension, making the total number of Supreme Court judges to five.

Ibrahim's petition to the Supreme Court also called to lift the suspension of the two judges. He accused JSC of suspending the justices in violation of the prescribed procedures and claimed the entire situation was surrounded by wrongdoings.

Ibrahim, who was the chairperson of the committee that drafted the current constitution of Maldives, also submitted the case to Maldives' High Court. However, the High Court also ruled against hearing the case.