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Sunday 22 Dec 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim, former Chief Justice. (File Photo)
The Parliament committee charged with evaluating an amendment to the Judges Act – which will effectively grant privileges to Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim – who served as Chief Justice during most of former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration – has voted in approval of the amendment.
The amendment to Judges Act was submitted to the Parliament by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed.
The legislature was evaluated by an interim committee of five lawmakers which voted to pass the legislature intact, with no revisions, with the unanimous consensus of all five lawmakers.
THE COMMITTEE:
The committee’s decision is expected to be presented to the Parliament floor and voted on, during the Parliament sitting scheduled to next Monday.
Riyaz’s legislature says that honorable retirement of judges was normal practice in the modern world, and that the Chief Justice who was removed from power with the implementation of the new Maldivian Constitution in 2008 – Sheikh Rasheed – had served the State over a great period of time.
His legislature makes reference to Article 285 (a) of the Constitution – which states that all Maldivian judges in office at the time of the implementation of the Constitution will retain their judgeship except for the Chief Justice.
Riyaz’s legislature declares the general retirement of all judges, as well as the forced retirement of former Chief Justice Sheikh Rasheed as cases of honorable retirement from service, and determines allowances and privileges are owed to them by the State for their service.
Main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers have spoken against the legislature, several of whom warned that such legislature which is rushed through by the outgoing Parliament will be revised by the incoming Parliament.
The last sitting of the outgoing 18th Parliament is scheduled for April 29.
