High Court halts compensation to Island Aviation’s ex-DMD Jennifer as it hears appeal

The High Court has granted a stay on the execution of a ruling made by the Employment Tribunal in October ordering the Island Aviation to reinstate former deputy managing director Aishath Jennifer for her 2023 dismissal as the court hears an appeal over the ruling.

Jennifer was appointed as the DMD of Island Aviation on December 25, 2018. The company’s board of directors made the decision to dismiss her on December 28, 2023, and she was served with termination papers on January 3 this year.

She appealed her dismissal with the Employment Tribunal on March 27.

The Employment Tribunal issued its ruling in the case on October 13. It found Jennifer’s terminal had been unlawful, and ordered the Island Aviation to reinstate her to her previous post, pay her the salaries and allowances she would have earned during the time, and compensate her with an additional one-month salary of MVR 56,171.

The ruling was appealed by Island Aviation with the High Court, which, on Tuesday, granted a stay on the execution of the ruling pending the outcome of the appeal.

The court instructed relevant authorities not to take any measures to implement the ruling until the court makes a decision on the appeal and instructs otherwise.