JSC members concerned over committee

Some members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) have expressed concern over the decision to summon only selected members of JSC to the Parliament Committee on Independent Institutions, for questioning regarding the appointment of judges to the Hulhumale’ Court for the trial against former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The members who have been summoned to the parliament committee tonight are JSC Vice President, Criminal Court Judge Abdullah Didi; JSC Member appointed by the public, former Judge Shuaib Abdul Rahman; and Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid.

The committee has said that these members ‘agree with’ attending the committee.

The parliament has said that Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid will not be attending the committee tonight as he has departed today on an overseas trip.

JSC said that some of its members have expressed concern over the decision to summon those three members, as the remaining six members have not been contacted about attending the committee.

JSC Media Official Hassa Zaheen said tonight that the parliament had not contacted the commission members to find out if they agree to attend the meeting.

He said that two JSC members have voiced their concerns regarding this matter, and that no JSC member has refused to attend the Parliament Independent Institutions Committee.

Zaheen said that the members who had expressed concern about not being contacted by the parliament regarding attending the committee are High Court Judge Abdullah Hameed and lawyer Ahmed Rasheed.

Chairman of the Independent Institutions Committee, Dhiddhoo MP Ahmed Sameer said that JSC members will be summoned to the committee individually and that all JSC members will be summoned in this manner. He said that the members who have been summoned to tonight’s committee meeting are members who have no objection to attending the committee.

JSC President, Supreme Court Judge Adam Mohamed sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament yesterday, refusing being held accountable to the committee on the issue of appointment of judges to the Hulhumale’ Court.

Adam Mohamed highlighted in the letter that the information requested by the committee concerns an ongoing trial. He said that the Supreme Court had ruled that no one should attempt to influence cases that are in progress in court, and that any decision that violates this ruling would be void.

Zaheen said regarding this letter that it was not sent following a decision by the commission; rather, it was sent by Adam Mohamed in his capacity as Commission President.