Judges refuse to attend Committee

The three Judges presiding over the trial against former President Mohamed Nasheed were absent from the Parliament Committee on Government Accountability, despite having been summoned for 11:00am today.

A member of the Committee, in which majority is held by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), told Sun Online that the Judges did not provide any reason for their absence.

The Judges also refused to attend the Committee on a previous occasion. They are being summoned in relation to an investigation by the Committee on the report of the Commission of National Inquiry.

MPs and judicial officials differ in opinions on the issue of Judges being summoned the Parliament Committees.

Moreover, while Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid summoned the Judges to the Committee, Parliament Council General had advised the Speaker that Judges cannot be summoned to Parliament Committees.

A statement issued by the parliament office in defence of Shahid’s decision said that the Constitution allows the Parliament and Parliament Committees to ‘summon any person to appear before it to give evidence under oath, or to produce documents.’

Meanwhile, Supreme Court and Judicial Service Commission have issued statements indicating that summoning Judges to Committees should not be allowed.

Article 141(c) of the Constitution also stipulates, ‘No officials performing public functions, or any other persons, shall interfere with and influence the functions of the courts.’