Decentralisation Act does not contradict Constitution: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has decided that the Decentralisation Act does not contradict the Constitution.

A case was filed last year by former Minister of State for Home Affairs Mohamed Naeem, requesting for the annulment of the articles of the Decentralisation Act which allegedly conflict with the unitary state system of government.

Supreme Court’s verdict delivered yesterday on this case states that articles 3d, 3b, 61, 62a, 63, 127, 129, and 130 of the Decentralisation Act do not contradict articles 2, 6, or chapter 8 of the Constitution.

In addition, it states that article 3e of the Decentralisation Act does not contradict articles 230b or 232a of the Constitution; and that articles 129 and 130 of the Decentralisation Act do not contradict article 179 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court’s verdict states that the organisation of the Local Government Authority is in line with the decentralisation principles stipulated in the Constitution; and that the appointment of a Civil Service Head at Local Councils by the Civil Service Commission, is also not in conflict with the Constitution.

This verdict comes at a time when people are, since the change of government on 7 February 2012, increasingly questioning the decentralisation system.