EC must seek voters' list endorsements from candidates, says Supreme Court judge

Supreme Court Judge Dr Ahmed Abdulla Didi has ordered it mandatory for the Elections Commission to have the candidates endorse their voters' lists for the 22 March parliamentary election.

Judge Ahmed Abdulla Didi made the order in court today, during the suo motu proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court regarding the conduct of the Elections Commission.

Speaking at the hearing, President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeq confessed to having told a parliamentary committee that the commission can proceed without the candidates’ endorsements. Fuad also agreed to having told the committee that the Supreme Court’s current proceedings into matters of the Elections Commission are unconstitutional.

Endorsing the voters’ list is not optional, Judge Ahmed Abdulla Didi said, and the Elections Commission must fulfill all conditions provided for by the Supreme Court in its guideline issued for the presidential elections last year.

Addressing members of the Elections Commission, Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain said that it is against the law to speak of a on ongoing judicial case outside the courtroom and reminded that the Supreme Court has once issued a ruling that the parliament does not have the prerogative to discuss ongoing judicial cases.

The Supreme Court bench did not announce a decision as they concluded the hearing today.