19 candidates, including former judges, apply for High Court vacancies

Nineteen individuals have applied for two vacant posts on the High Court bench, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced following the close of the application period.

Among the applicants are several former judges, including former High Court Chief Judge Shujau Usmaan and former High Court judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim. Shujau was dismissed by the JSC after being convicted of misconduct during his tenure as Chief Judge.

It was alleged that during the 2018 presidential election campaign, he visited Gaafu Alifu Gemanafushi to solicit votes for a candidate. He resigned before Parliament could remove him from office. Shujau had also previously applied for a position on the Supreme Court.

Rauf Ibrahim was also scheduled to be removed by the JSC but resigned before the process could be completed.

Other notable candidates include former Criminal Court judge Ibrahim Ali, former senior magistrate of Kaafu Judicial Constituency Mohamed Rageeb Ahmed, and former Chief Magistrate of Haa Dhaalu Atoll Ali Adam.

Additional candidates for the High Court posts are:

The two High Court vacancies arose following the retirement of the court’s longest-serving judge, Mohamed Niyaz, and the resignation of Justice Mohamed Faisal.