MDP proposes to reduce number of Supreme Court and High Court Judges

MDP has submitted a bill to the Parliament proposing the reduction of the number of Supreme Court Judges to five and High Court Judges to seven.

In a press release issued by MDP today, they said that the bill proposes changes to the legislations relating to Maldivian courts.

Currently, the Supreme Court consists of seven Judges while the High Court consists of nine Judges.

In the revision proposed by MDP to article five of the Judges legislation, they suggest that the Supreme Court should consist of a total of five Judges, that is, the Chief Justice plus four appointed Judges.

They also proposed the removal of article 16 of the Judges legislation subsequent to the passing of this bill.

MDP also said that Judges have to be appointed within thirty days of the passing of this bill.

The bill also proposed amendments to article 27 relating to the appointment of Judges to the High Court. They proposed that the High Court should consist of a total of seven Judges, that is, a Chief Judge plus six appointed Judges.

Judges to High Court have to be appointed within thirty days of the passing of this bill as well.

MDP Spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmee said today that these revisions were proposed because there is a need to reduce the number of Judges at Supreme Court and High Court.