Judiciary Committee evaluates President’s picks for Supreme Court

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s nominees for the vacant seat at the Supreme Court - former attorney general Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed and Drug Court judge Mahaz Ali Zahir - are now under evaluation by the Judiciary Committee of Parliament.

“Of the names I’ve sent to the Judicial Service Commission, I find Mahaz Ali Zahir of Meyna in G. Dh. Madaveli and Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed of Gorun in S. Hulhudhoo to be suitable for appointment to the Supreme Court, and present these names to the Parliament and ask for a decision,” reads President Solih’s letter.

The current vacancy at the Supreme Court was left in the wake of the impeachment of former justice Abdulla Didi for ethical misconduct on August 28.

Dhiyana and Mahaz had both been highly recommended for the vacancy by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which had interviewed the candidates who applied for the vacancy. JSC also recommended three more candidates; current High Court judges Mohamed Niyaz, Ali Sameer and Shuaib Hassan Zakariyya.

The Parliament will consider all five candidates when it makes it decision.