Parliament approves removal of Faiz, Muthasim as Supreme Court judges

The parliament has approved the removal of Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain and Ahmed Muthasim Adnan from their posts as judges of the Supreme Court.

The motion to remove the two judges received 53 votes in favour, 21 votes against, and one abstention at today’s parliament sitting.

Following the vote, Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Maseeh announced that the motion to dismiss Supreme Court judges Ahmed Faiz Hussain and Ahmed Muthasim Adnan had been approved by the parliament, under Article 154 (b) of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a case to the Civil Court, requesting to annul the amendment to the Courts Act allowing the reduction of the Supreme Court judges from seven to five.

A case has also been filed to the High Court by lawyers Shaheen Hameed, Hassan Maaz Shareef, and Mohamed Faisal, requesting to annul this amendment, which they claim is a violation of the Constitution.

The amendment to reduce the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five was submitted to the parliament by Addu Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef.