Madaveli halts Male' residency docs over record gaps

Madaveli Council has decided not to release the documents stating an individual has been residing in Male' for 15 consecutive years, a document required under the "Boahiyaavahikan Enmenah" [Housing For All] policy.

The council made this announcement amidst public requests that the documentation be given out by them.

The announcement reads that the documents needed to prove the amount of time plot and flat applicants have been living in Male' are documents officially under the responsibility of state administrations and a document from a state administration which proves that individual has been residing in Male'.

The announcement does state however, that the document given by such an administration will only be acknowledged if the records under the official responsibility of the administration proves their length of residence in Male'. Madaveli Council also said that it has been made known by documents that have been made public by the Housing Ministry that if the document that proves the period of residency in Male' that is given by a respective island council or city council does not base and prove itself upon the records that are maintained by the council, then the document will not be acknowledged.

And so, the council stated that as they have not maintained such records, they decided not to provide such documents.

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib gave an interview to state media Public Service Media (PSM) saying that the President of the Council cannot present a document that states an individual has been residing in Male' for 15 years.

"The document cannot be given based on the Council President's wishes. The document can only be given after it has been based on information that has been recorded and kept by an institution," said the minister.

As per Muththalib, there have been concessions regarding the submission of the document that states an individual has been residing in Male' for 15 years. If an individual does not have an employment letter or an official document that states they have built a family, they can submit a letter from the owner of the house they were living in, said Muththalib.

However, Muththalib said the document has to be legal and has to be an affidavit that has been notarized.

"Currently, the legal responsibility will fall to the lawyer and to the individual that submits the document. It is not proper that someone's rights be lost by giving out the wrong information," said the minister.

The government has decided to not acknowledge documents from island councils while accusations have been made that some councils have given out false documents regarding the 15-year residency in order to meet the requirements for flats given out under the Gedhoruveriya Scheme.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) looked into the case at the time, with them stating that they will take action against the councils that gave out falsified information.