JSC could not attend committee due to failure to hold emergency meeting: Adam Mohamed

President of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Adam Mohamed has sent a letter to the parliament, clarifying that JSC members did not attend the Parliament Independent Institutions Committee following failure by the commission to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

The letter states that the notification to summon JSC members to Parliament Independent Institutions Committee was sent on Wednesday at 3:00 pm, requesting the members to attend the committee at 8:30 pm that night, which is not adequate time to prepare for the meeting.

He said in the letter that despite this not being adequate time to prepare for the meeting, JSC made efforts to hold an emergency meeting, but was unsuccessful due to failure to meet the quorum requirement.

He noted with regret that the quorum requirement, including Parliament Speaker Abdullah Shahid, could not be met; and at the same time expressed sadness over the letter sent by the parliament speaker to him, in which the parliament speaker highlighted that the parliament has the authority to decide over issues related to independent institutions and expressed concern over JSC’s failure to attend the committee.

The Independent Institutions Committee summoned JSC members for questioning regarding the appointment of judges to Hulhumale’ Court for the trial related to the arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed.