JSC election announced for 21 August

The election to appoint a member representing lawyers to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will be held on 21 August, the Attorney General’s Office has announced.

The Attorney General’s Office said in an announcement on Sunday that polling will be held on 21 August from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Polling locations are yet to be announced.

The list of lawyers eligible to vote in the JSC election was also announced on Sunday. The Attorney General’s Office has advised voters who wish to vote away from their registered locations to register before 12 August. Complaints period for voters’ list is also set to close on 12 August.

The election was postponed on 13 July following an injunction by the Civil Court, over a case filed by the Chief Magistrate of Gaafu Dhaalu Fiyoree court Abdul Razzaq.

Abdul Razzaq's case stated that the procedures established by the Attorney General’s Office to conduct the election were inadequate and that they hinder the right to vote for lawyers in the islands.

The election amongst lawyers to appoint a representative to the country’s primary judicial oversight body is being contested by former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, former JSC member Latheefa Gasim, Mohamed Fareed, Anas Abdul Sattar and Mohamed Faisal.