Parliament rejects amendment that obligates Police Commissioner to be approved by Parliament

Parliament has rejected an amendment to the Police Act which stated that the person nominated for the position of Commissioner of Police has to undergo approval of the Parliament.

The amendment was proposed by Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutholib in 2010. Parliament National Security Committee reviewed the amendment and had decided against it, stating that the points proposed for the amendment already existed in the Maldives Police Service bill proposed by Kulhudhuffushi-south MP Mohamed Nasheed.

Parliament voted on the National Security Committee report which recommended against incorporating the amendment. The report saw 51 votes in total with 46 votes to approve the report. While one MP voted against approving the report, 4 MPs chose to abstain from the vote.

The amendment, which was proposed to article 51 (b) of the Police Act, states that a person nominated for the position of Commissioner of Police shall be approved by the Parliament, and subsequently appointed to his position by the Home Minister. The current Police Act grants the President the prerogative to appoint and dismiss the Commissioner of Police.

The amendment also stated that the Home Minister would have the power to institute a division named the Special Constabulary for the police to be able to better carry out their functions and duties.