High Court's longest-serving judge Mohamed Niyaz retires

Judge Mohamed Niyaz, the longest-serving judge currently on the High Court bench, has retired from his judicial post effective today.

The High Court confirmed that Judge Niyaz honorably stepped down from his position today, making this his final day of service as a High Court judge. Judge Niyaz, who also recently resigned as the Vice President of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), submitted his request for retirement last month. The JSC accepted his submission and approved his retirement.

The exact reason for Judge Niyaz's retirement request has not been officially confirmed, but it is understood that he made the decision after considering his long period of service in the judiciary and his health status.

It is noteworthy that at the time the JSC accepted his retirement, the commission was also investigating five conduct-related cases against him. These cases were reported to be long-standing issues, some of which the Commission had previously determined did not constitute misconduct.

Judge Niyaz retires after dedicating 23 years to the judicial sector. He was first appointed to the judiciary on September 30, 2002, as a Magistrate at the Haa Dhaalu Vaikaradhoo Court, and later served as the Chief Magistrate of the Haa Dhaalu Judicial Sector. Having completed his higher education in Sharia and Law at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, Judge Niyaz was appointed to the High Court in January 2018. This tenure made him the longest-serving judge currently on the court's bench.

Throughout his career, Judge Niyaz presided over numerous trials at the High Court, delivering several notable and high-profile judgments. He was also known for engaging in rigorous and intense questioning of lawyers during proceedings.