Ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has yesterday in parliament proposed amendments to the Judges Act.
The bill was submitted by North Thinadhoo MP Saudhulla Hilmy.
The bill aims to establish a code of ethics for judges and mechanisms to ensure their conduct maintains public trust and judicial independence.
The bill further seeks to expand protocols on evaluating judges’ performance, handling their transfers between courts, overseeing their financial dealings, and reviewing financial statement procedures.
Amendments have also been brought to the bill to define activities that judges can and cannot engage in while in office.
The bill states that in addition to what is defined as permissible for judges, there are no reservations to judges engaging in activities that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) deems will not affect judges' duties, impartiality and independence.
Judges are prohibited from holding other state roles, engaging in private sector work, or accepting contract-based employment.
The bill further states that while judges can participate in funds run by the State for regular employees, they cannot create or manage funds. The bill also states that judges cannot conduct securities businesses under the Financial Securities Act and regulations, conduct trading on the stock exchange or run law firms.
The bill states that judges must not run any form of business, nor should they purchase or rent State properties. Judges are also barred from any direct or indirect involvement in any transaction between the State and other parties.
However, judges can hold shares in a public company as long as they are not a significant shareholder.
The bill further states that sale or lease of a land, house or property in a judge's name at market price will not be considered as engaging in business or employment.
If a judge does not conclude a case within a year of it being assigned, then the Judge must provide a reason for this to the court's Chief Judge and JSC, and then provide monthly updates on progress to the Chief Judge, the new bill states. The existing law requires these actions if a case is not concluded within six months.
It also recommends setting up a performance review committee for judges, with a mandate to share a detailed report with each judge regarding the assessment and results.
