High Court accepts JP

High Court has accepted Jumhoory Party’s case against the Elections Commission today, after rejecting a similar case filed by the party yesterday, in an attempt to obtain documents related to alleged irregularities surrounding Saturday's presidential election.

Lawyer Mohamed Haleem Ali, member of JP’s election team, said that the case was filed for a second time after completing the ‘due process’ required by the court.

“The case has been registered when we filed it after completing the due process required by the court. The next step would be to schedule the trial. I’m hoping that a hearing will be held tomorrow,” said Haleem.

In the case, JP has requested the court to order the Elections Commission to provide the voters’ lists and ballot box sheets of the first round of the presidential election.

Yesterday, the Elections Commission provided documents related to the ballot boxes of Faafu atoll and Dhaalu atoll to JP.

The Elections Commission has however not provided all the voters’ lists and ballot box sheets.

The High Court rejected the case filed by JP, citing that it does not fit in the criteria stipulated by Article 64 of the Elections (General) Act.

Article 64 (a) of the Maldives Elections (General) Act states that an election related grievance maybe submitted to the High Court if there is an action against an election related law or regulation of the State, or if the complainant is unhappy with a decision made by the Election Commission with regard to an election related complaint, or if the complainant is unhappy with the result of the election as a whole.