Supreme Court accepts appeal over High Court decision awarding Veyvah council seat to PNC

The Supreme Court has accepted the appeal concerning the M. Veyvah council seat, which was awarded to the PNC candidate by the High Court after the MDP candidate had initially won the election.

Two candidates contested the local council election held on April 4 last year. MDP candidate Ahsan Naeem won by a margin of two votes, securing 121 votes against PNC candidate Mohamed Nazeeh’s 119. However, the High Court later overturned the result, handing the seat to the PNC.

When the High Court heard the case, the bench was divided. The majority ruled to annul three disputed ballots, all cast for the MDP candidate. With those votes invalidated, Ahsan’s total fell from 121 to 118, giving Nazeeh the lead with 119 votes. Ahsan and the MDP appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

According to the Supreme Court website, the Registrar has granted permission to file the case. Granting leave to appeal generally indicates the case has been admitted, after which administrative steps such as paying the registration fee follow.

Ahsan filed the appeal against the Elections Commission and Nazeeh. There is no indication on the website that a decision has been made on the MDP’s separate motion.

It is understood that when members of the Veyvah council were sworn in, the candidate in question was not sworn in.

The High Court ruling was delivered by a 2–1 majority. Justice Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, who previously contested parliamentary elections as a PNC candidate, and presiding judge Mohamed Shaneez Abdullah voted to invalidate the three ballots. Justice Ibrahim Mahir dissented, stating there was no basis to alter the result.

Before the case reached the High Court, the Elections Commission conducted a recount following a complaint to its Compliance Bureau. The recount reduced each candidate’s tally by one vote but did not change the winner.