The lawyers, who arrived at the JSC in the morning, are still at the commission as they seek clarification on Latheef’s vote regarding the suspension of justices Husnu Su’ood, Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir.
A group of lawyers visited the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) today to request details on how Ali Abdul Latheef, the lawyers’ representative on the commission, voted in the decision to suspend three Supreme Court judges.
The lawyers, who arrived at the JSC in the morning, are still at the commission as they seek clarification on Latheef’s vote regarding the suspension of justices Husnu Su’ood, Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir.
They have also signed a petition requesting this information.
A statement from the Bar Council yesterday said that an amendment to the Judicature Act reducing the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five is unconstitutional.
Lawyers have urged the JSC’s legal representative to refrain from participating in any decisions taken under the amendment.
The JSC suspended the three justices over an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
However, no details of the case have been disclosed.
The suspensions came shortly after Parliament passed the bill reducing the number of Supreme Court judges.
The JSC has also launched disciplinary investigations into the three judges.
It is reported that the commission is investigating an incident from October 2022, in which former High Court Assistant Registrar Hussain Mohamed Haneef was allegedly summoned to the Supreme Court and spoken to in a demeaning manner.
Additionally, the JSC is reviewing a complaint filed by a private individual against Justices Azmiralda and Mahaz, accusing them of calling and threatening a Criminal Court judge.
The timing of the bill coincides with the Supreme Court's decision to continue hearings for a petition seeking to quash the anti defection amendment. With the bill passing, however, three Supreme Court judges were suspended shortly before the hearing was supposed to begin.
The Constitution states that a judge shall not be removed from office as long as he or she does not violate the code of conduct and rules to be followed by judges. The JSC cannot remove a judge unless a disciplinary case is proven and two-thirds of the Parliament vote for their removal.
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