Ruling: Current councilors will remain in office until election

Civil Court has ruled that the postponement of the upcoming Local Council Election will not create a legal vacuum as the current councilors will remain in office until the election is held.

Civil Court ruled favor of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) lawsuit this Thursday, ordering that the Local Council Election – scheduled to be held on January 14 – be postponed to two months from the date.

PPM had filed the lawsuit claiming “unavoidable circumstances” which rendered the party unable to prepare for the election on time as the loss of important documents made it impossible for them to hold a primary to select its candidates for the election.

The current term of council members will end in February, 2016. And the law makes it compulsory that council members are elected for a new term before the current term ends.

Civil Court issued the ruling that the current councilors will remain in office until the election is held, based on a ruling issued by Supreme Court in a similar case.

The reference was made to the Supreme Court ruling that authorized former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik to remain in office for more time to prevent a legal vacuum due to the delay in Presidential Election 2013.