Hithadhoo court halts drawing of lots for housing plots

Hithadhoo Magistrate Court has today issued an order to halt the drawing of lots for housing plots, to be given to the public by the Hithadhoo Council.

The plots were initially acquired and reserved for government use. Hithadhoo council had made a decision to issue the plots and recently announced that the drawing of lots will be held on Saturday, 14 December.

Hithadhoo Court’s order follows a case filed by a local, Ibrahim Naseer of house Zenaan, Seenu Hithadhoo, asking the the court to prohibit the council from drawing lots.

The court order state that Article 40 (b) of the Constitution states that private property may only be acquired by the State after fair and adequate compensation is paid in return and that these plots cannot be acquired and handed over to different individuals without granting adequate compensation to the owners that initially held them.