UN instructs govt. to respond regarding suspension of Supreme Court justices

United Nations (UN) has instructed the Maldivian government to respond to the complaint submitted to the organization following the suspension of three Supreme Court justices as the top court reviewed a case highly linked to government’s interests.

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) suspended three Supreme Court justices on February 26^th – Husnu Al-Suood, Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir – citing criminal investigations against them by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Suood subsequently resigned as JSC investigated disciplinary cases against the three justices.

The complaint to the UN and other international organizations including Commonwealth and World Bank, was submitted by Suood.

Speaking with Sun on Tuesday, Suood said the UN has instructed the Maldivian government to respond to the complaint before June 2^nd on April 2^nd.

Sun was unsuccessful in efforts to obtain a comment from Foreign Ministry regarding the issue.

Prior to this, Suood said the complaints were submitted in order to protect Maldives’ administrative system and ensure the independence of judges.

“If this is not guaranteed, a state cannot function in today’s world. International relations cannot be upheld,” he added.

JSC has yet to make a decision in the cases of Justice Azimralda and Justice Mahaz who still remain in suspension. Both justices have denied any wrongdoings.

Notably, the justices were suspended as the court reviewed a case challenging a contentious amendment to the Constitution that added anti-defection clauses. The controversial amendment added three more circumstances where parliamentarians will lose their seat, including if they are expelled from their political party.

On the same day the justices were suspended, a ruling PNC-dominated Parliament passed a contentious amendment to the Judicature Act to downsize the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices. However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has sent the bill back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Parliament has again sent the bill to Judiciary Committee for amendments despite calls from the opposition as well as from within PNC itself to reject the bill.