The bill proposing an amendment to the Judicature Act where the Supreme Court Judges bench will be reduced from seven to five has been accepted by parliament today.
The bill proposing an amendment to the Judicature Act where the Supreme Court Judges bench will be reduced from seven to five has been accepted by parliament today.
The bill has now been forwarded tothe Parliament's Judiciary Committee, which will start review this evening.
The bill was submitted by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Holhudhoo AbduSattar Mohamed. It was accepted with 64 votes in favour by PNC MPs. Eleven PNC members did not participate in the vote.
The 11 opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs in attendance voted against the bill, as well as independent MP for Meedhoo AbduRahman.
The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for 4pm today to commence review of the bill.
Only three PNC MPs spoke in today's debate on acceptance of the bill. These are Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau and Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq. All three spoke in support of the bill.
Many MDP MPs spoke in the debate, with a collective stance against the bill. They accuse that changing SC bench compilation while they are hearing a case concerning the parliament amounts to exerting political influence.
There is a difference of opinion within PNC on the matter. It has been learned that a few amongst the 40 or so MPs who attended yesterday's PNC PG Group meeting had reservations about passing this bill at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing important cases.
However, PNC PG Leader Ibrahim Falah endorsed the bill and instructed MPs to speak in the debate in favour of the bill. A message sent to the PG Office WhatsApp group last night by Falah said that the party leadership had decided to endorse the bill.
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