Other groups cannot make decisions on cases in progress in Court: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has issued an order tonight, saying that other groups cannot make decisions on cases that have been filed to Court and are in progress in Court.

The Court advised the relevant groups to refrain from such activities, which are against the Constitution.

This order comes at a time when the Parliament Committee on Independent Institutions recently passed that Hulhumale’ Court is not legitimate, when a case questioning the legitimacy of the Hulhumale’ Court has been filed to Supreme Court.

Moreover, the government cancelled its agreement with GMR yesterday, when the Supreme Court is yet to make a decision on the case filed by the Attorney General’s Office arguing that Maldivian Courts have jurisdiction over the agreement with GMR.

The Supreme Court referred to article 141 (c) of the Constitution, and said that no officials performing public functions, or any other persons, shall interfere with and influence the functions of the Courts.

It said that the aforementioned article covers activities such as holding debates, taking action and making decisions on cases filed to Supreme Court before the Court makes its decisions, and that decisions made by state institutions or any other group to influence such cases would be considered void.

The Supreme Court said that the Constitution states that the three powers of the state are separated, and that no power shall try to illegally influence another. It stressed that the Supreme Court’s decision would act as the final word when resolving conflicts between institutions and individual people.