Twelve candidates apply for Supreme Court vacancies

Twelve individuals, including sitting judges, former members of the judiciary, and legal professionals, have submitted applications for two vacant seats on the Supreme Court bench.

The positions became available following the dismissal of Justices Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir, whose removal was approved by Parliament earlier this month.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has since opened applications to fill the top court vacancies, with the final appointments to be made by Parliament based on the Commission's recommendations.

Among the applicants are two current senior judges; Chief Justice of the High Court Mohamed Faisal and High Court Judge Mohamed Saleem.

Six former judges also submitted their nominations:

1. Abdul Ghani Mohamed – former Supreme Court Justice and current President of the Tax Appeal Tribunal

2. Shujau Usman – former Chief Justice of the High Court

3. Abdulla Hameed – former High Court Judge

4. Ahmed Hailam – former Chief Justice of the Criminal Court

5. Mohamed Ragheeb Ahmed – former Magistrate

6. Mariyam Nihayath – former Civil Court Judge and former Deputy Prosecutor General

Other candidates include former Assistant Prosecutor Aishath Fazna Ahmed, lawyer and former MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim (Waddey), along with legal professionals Ibrahim Ali and Mohamed Ibrahim.