High Court dismisses DRP dissolution case

The High Court has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) contesting the Elections Commission’s (EC) decision to dissolve the political party.

During last year, the commission dissolved DRP, citing failure to meet the 3,000-member requirement during the notice period.

Subsequently, the party filed a lawsuit at Civil Court. However, according to the Political Parties Act, such cases fall within the purview of the High Court and not the Civil Court.

However, the High Court dismissed the case at the initial stages. In the registrars decision, it was noted that this case cannot take in a case of this nature. 

It was further noted that only cases regarding registration of a political party and case involving EC’s refusal to bring changes to a party registration can be filed at High Court.

Speaking about this, interim leader, Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir said to Sun that a legal team will be making a decision regarding the dismissal, and that the biggest priority for now was registering a new political party.

“A team of lawyers will be making a decision regarding that. I am giving the most priority to forming a new political party. Working on that.”

He further revealed that very soon they will be submitting an application to register a new party under the name “Green Party of Maldives”.

In the original lawsuit, DRP claimed that over 10,000 members were removed from membership in violation of regulations, and said the decision violates the legal rights of the party and its members.

Hence, The party asked the court to overturn EC’s decision, and reinstate over 10,000 members.

DRP, the second political party founded in Maldives, was registered on July 15, 2005. It had been the political party to win the highest number of seats in the 2009 parliamentary elections with 28 seats.

However, the party is currently represented by one member at the Parliament, MP Jabir.