Bill to separate Attorney General’s Office from Civil Service returned to Committee

The bill to restructure the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) as a separate entity outside the civil service framework has been sent back to the Judiciary Committee without being passed.

The bill, submitted by People’s National Congress (PNC) MP Abdulla Rifau on behalf of the government saw a total of 67 members voting against it, with only one member, Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, voting in favor.

Following this, a vote was held to determine whether to refer the bill back to committee, with 70 members voting in favor of doing so.

Currently, the Attorney General’s Office operates under the Civil Service Commission, and its employees fall under the civil service regulations.

However, unlike other independent institutions such as the Prosecutor General’s Office, the AGO does not have a separate legal framework governing its structure and operations.

The government introduced the Attorney General’s Office Bill to address challenges faced by the AGO due to its civil service status, including the difficulty in recruiting qualified lawyers.

Salaries at the AGO are comparatively lower than those in other independent institutions due to civil service pay scales.

The proposed bill seeks to establish the AGO as an independent service provider, dividing employees into two categories; legal services and administrative services.

Under the bill, the salaries and allowances of AGO employees would be determined by the Minister of Finance in accordance with the policies set by the National Pay Commission under the State Salary Policy Act.

The bill also includes provisions for AGO staff to be covered by a suitable health insurance system and to receive an honorary retirement allowance in accordance with relevant retirement regulations.

In addition, the bill outlines the responsibilities, functions, and duties of the Attorney General as specified in the Constitution. It also sets out the roles and obligations of the employees and the regulations governing their conduct.