Committee decides not to increase DJA’s budget

Budget Evaluation Committee of People’s Majlis has made the decision not to increase the budget allocated for Department of Judicial Administration (DJA).

The decision was passed with the vote of Budget Evaluation Committee members this Tuesday.

Two political parties made total three proposals during the meeting; two proposals made by two members of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and one proposal made by a member of Jumhoory Party (JP).

Leader of JP, Maamingili MP Qasim Ibrahim proposed adding MVR 100 million to DJA’s budget and summoning senior officials of DJA to the committee for discussion.

The proposal failed to pass when only four members backed it up.

Deputy Leader of PPM Parliamentary Group, Vilifushi MP Riyaz Rasheed proposed to summon officials from DJA to the committee for an unofficial, confidential meeting to hear their concerns, and holding an additional meeting with officials from Ministry of Finance.

PPM member, Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed proposed passing the original budget of MVR 367 million with no changes.

Both Riyaz Rasheed’s and Asma’s proposals gained six votes. And the tie was broken by Chair of Budget Evaluation Committee, PPM Parliamentary Group Leader – Vilimafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik – who voted for Asma’s proposal.

DJA issued a statement on Monday saying that the budget allocated for 2017 was not enough to cover even the salaries, allowances and incentives of judges and other judiciary staff.