Stay order was issued after the case was registered: High Court

High Court has said today that the stay order to suspend all proceedings of case against former President Mohamed Nasheed for the illegal detention of a criminal court judge was issued by the High Court, after the court had registered the case submitted by Nasheed regarding the legality of the Hulhumale' Court bench of judges.

Media Official for the High Court Ameen Faisal said that some media sources had reported that the stay order was issued before the case of the Hulhumale' Court bench submitted was registered in the High Court, and that these allegations are not true.

“The case [of the Hulhumale' court bench of judges] was submitted on the 31st of last month. The Court had decided to accept the case and the party that submitted the case was notified on that day itself, to settle the registration fee. The party paid the registration fee on the 1st of April. The [stay] order was issued after that,” Ameen said.

He said that it was not unusual for orders to be issued signed by the Chief Judge alone and that it has been practiced before.

High Court issued a stay order two days ago, ordering to halt all proceedings regarding the case against former president Mohamed Nasheed for the illegal detention of Criminal Court judge Abdulla Mohamed. The proceedings are to remain suspended until the Court decides on the matter submitted by former president Nasheed alleging that the bench of judges presiding over the illegal detention case was assembled to against the law.