High Court Judge Niyaz to retire after 23 years of service

The currently longest-serving judge at the High Court, Judge Mohamed Niyaz, has expressed to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) his intent to retire. 

Niyaz, who recently resigned as JSC's Vice President, applied for retirement last Sunday. It has been reported that the JSC has accepted his retirement on Monday. 

No official reasons for Judge Niyaz's decision to retire has been revealed. However, Mihaaru News reports that they have learned that Judge Niyaz decided to retire considering his long period of service and health status. 

While the JSC has accepted the request to retire, the commission is looking into five disciplinary cases against the judge. The cases have remained unresolved for an extended period, and the commission previously found no grounds for disciplinary action. 

Judge Niyaz has served in the judicial sector for 23 years. He was first appointed as a judge on 30 September 2002, as Magistrate at HDh. Vaikaradhoo court. He later served as Chief Magistrate for HDh. judicial area. 

Judge Niyaz pursued higher education in shariah and law at Malaysia's International Islamic University. 

He was appointed as a High Court Judge in January 2018. With this, he is, at present, the longest-serving Judge at the High Court.