Hisaan barred from JSC-related deliberations at Parliament committee

Judicial Committee of the Parliament has made the decision to bar Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain – the parliamentary representative at Judicial Service Commission (JSC) – from providing input in any deliberations connected to the commission at committee stage to prevent any possible conflict of interest which may arise.

The Judicial Committee, during its third meeting held this Thursday, passed the decision with the unanimous consensus of all committee members.

The decision means Hisaan will also not be allowed to sit in when members of the JSC are questioned by the committee.

Speaking during the meeting, West Henveyru MP Hassan Latheef said that Hisaan being present during questioning of JSC members posed a conflict of interest given her position as a member of both the JSC and the Judicial Committee.

“The committee can reserve the right to decide whether she can be present as a person charged with performing a task under the committee’s mandate,” said Hassan Latheef, proposing that Hisaan be barred from some of the committee’s work at the interest of preserving the integrity of the committee’s decisions.

The proposal was seconded by Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain.

“I believe this should not be left at Hisaan’s discretion. If she is a member of this committee, she must not be allowed to sit in during deliberations over JSC. And she shouldn’t be allowed to sit in as a member of JSC,” said Ali Hussain, adding that Hisaan’s contribution will be greatly valued in all of the committee’s other work.