Parliament rejects bill to change JSC’s composition

The Parliament has rejected the bill submitted by PPM to bar politicians from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The constitutional amendment was submitted by Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), marking his second attempt to push through the change.

The vote on the bill was held at the Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

Only 11 parliamentarians voted in favor of accepting the bill, while 46 voted to reject the bill. One parliamentarian abstained.

Several of the MDP parliamentarians who joined the preliminary debate on the bill spoke in favor of some degree of political control within JSC. They said that it was clear that Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed did not exert any influence as a member of JSC.

Noting that changing JSC’s composition had been one of the current administration’s electoral pledges, opposition parliamentarians said it should have been MDP parliamentarians presenting the bill.

MDP parliamentarians responded that they would reform JSC, and questioned PPM’s intentions in submitting the bill.