Seventy lawyers submit petition raising concerns over judicial system

A petition detailing notable concerns in the judicial system, signed by more than 70 lawyers, has been submitted to some independent institutions and government offices.

The petition, signed also by 34 law students in addition to the 70 lawyers, was submitted to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Attorney General’s Office, and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

Former Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana told reporters outside HRCM after submitting the document to the commission, that the petition highlights seven main issues.

She said that this includes issues related to obstruction of people’s rights, and obvious violations of the criminal justice system.

Public has lost confidence in the judicial system due to the issues related to the criminal justice system, said Dhiyana.

She also voiced concern over the curtailment of the period given for filing appeal cases, and the procedure followed by courts in extending remand periods for suspects.