Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muththalib stated today that long-standing housing-related issues that remain unresolved due to various reasons will henceforth be handled in accordance with instructions from the Office for Civil Rights, operating under the Attorney General's Office.
This decision by the Housing Ministry comes amidst public backlash over an attempt to sell a plot of land in Hulhumalé to an individual at a low price.
While documents revealing the decision to sell a 1,250-square-foot plot from Hulhumalé Phase 2 to an individual named Ahmed Zahir for MVR 468,750 were circulating on social media, the Housing Ministry stated that this was a plot intended to be sold as a resolution to an unresolved land issue dating back to a government decision from 2003.
Amidst criticism directed at this decision, the Minister stated in a social media post that the ministry has decided not to make unilateral determinations hereafter regarding long-standing, unresolved housing issues stemming from various reasons.
The Minister noted that housing issues are sensitive matters deeply connected to ordinary individuals, and stated that the ministry has decided to handle the resolution of such issues with maximum transparency.
The Minister stated that such issues will henceforth be decided by the Office for Civil Rights, operating under the Attorney General's Office. Established in November 2023, this institution aims to protect civil rights guaranteed to citizens by the laws and the Constitution. The office holds the power to review and advise government authorities on safeguarding citizens' rights while providing public services. The public can also submit cases to the office in situations where they are deprived of civil rights. However, it is not an institution with the authority to independently investigate cases.
"Housing-related issues are sensitive matters deeply connected to ordinary individuals, and therefore, in resolving such issues as transparently and fairly as possible, they will henceforth be sent to the Office for Civil Rights operating under the Attorney General's Office. In such matters, the ministry will act in accordance with what that office determines." Mutthalib wrote.
According to a statement issued by the Housing Ministry yesterday, documents show that the-then government had decided in 2003 to sell a 904-square-foot plot in Hulhumalé to Zahir for MVR 339,000.
However, the statement noted that because the plot had not been handed over to him to date, he had repeatedly requested a resolution from the government.
Therefore, the statement explained, the government decided to sell a plot of land to him in Hulhumalé in accordance with the prices previously agreed upon for the sale. The ministry's statement also added that the plot designated for sale was vacant following the termination of an agreement for a land plot previously assigned to an ineligible applicant under the former government's Binveriya Scheme.
