Amendment passed for magistrates to finish degree in five years

Today, the Parliament passed an amendment to the Judges Act where magistrates now have to finish their first degree within five years.

As the Judges Act currently stands, the educational requirement for Magistrate Court Judges is a diploma. However, North Thinadhoo MP PNC member Saudhullah Hilmy submitted a bill on behalf of the government, where the educational requirement for the position will be to have a degree in Sharia and the law.

Magistrates who do not meet this requirement are to obtain said degree within five years, as per the bill.

Along with this, the bill states that once the bill becomes law, magistrates who do not have a degree need to enroll in a degree program within one year. The bill also requires that once a degree is obtained, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is to check its validity and whether it meets the requirements.

However, if a magistrate fails to obtain a degree without a valid reason, they will be deemed as not having met the requirements, with them being removed from their post, as per the bill.

The amendment includes judges being able to retire upon request before reaching 55 years of age.

Today's Parliamentary sitting saw the bill being passed with 64 MPs in favor.