‘Binveriya’ scheme legally void: Muhuthaz

Former Prosecutor General and former President’s Office Justice Advisor Muhuthaz Muhusin has claimed the ‘Binveriya’ scheme is legally void.

While speaking with ‘Sun’ Muhuthaz called the scheme was discriminatory, and was developed in contravention to the Land Act.

He called allocating lands owned by a state-owned corporation to select few individuals unfair, and added that the rights of all citizens were attached to these lands.

The previous government issued lands from Hulhumale’, Gulhifalhu, and Giraavaru Falhu under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme. Highlighting this, Muhuthaz said that the government making significant expenditure to reclaim lands to ensure the interests of few individuals was unfair.

“… our calculations show that the land value of Hulhumale’ would be above MVR 80 billion, which is what the government is spending for just these 4,000 people. This is what I am calling as unfair,” Muhuthaz said.

While noting that land must be assured to Male’ residents, Muhuthaz said the policies related to the scheme was problematic. He called it a mockery of the people who were in need of housing.

He also noted that it was the incumbent government that had to formulate a proper plan for the scheme, which had been ignored by the previous administration.

“… there was no land use plan or anything that was made properly. There were no lands allocated for social causes. No plans for mosques or schools, but the idea was to congest with people. That is why I am calling it a mockery. If the previous government followed it through with a proper plan, I would have said it,” Muhuthaz added.

Recently, Housing Development Corporation (HDC) came under fire over allegations of awarding lands under ‘Binveriya’ scheme to individuals who were not listed in the recipients list.

HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed is primarily suspected of this corruption, but he resigned not long after claiming it was to cooperate with the investigation carried out by local authorities.

Muhuthaz said that authorities were looking into the case.

In response to Muhuthaz, the former Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizzu had also claimed issuing lands from Hulhumale’ was illegal and irresponsible.

“No presidential candidate had the courage to defy this fearing the loss of public confidence. The issue needs to be investigated by the government and the parliament,” Muizzu responded to Muhuthaz’s post on X.

A total of 18,955 recipients were eligible for the scheme during the previous government, which had decided to issue 9,003 plots.