Authorities begin evicting Bandeyri Koshi no. 195

Maldives Police Service and MNDF has started evicting the state housing block "Bandeyri Koshi" no. 195. Authorities have been actively involved in the eviction since 4:40 p.m. today.

Talking to the press, a man living in the block said that they cannot be evicted without compensation according to the High Court.

He said that when the officers doing the eviction were showed the ruling from the High Court and asked if there was an order overruling it, they were unable to show any such orders.

The man said that they have filed a suit at the Civil Court after the Defence Ministry ordered to vacate the premises by 12 p.m. on 12 October 2017 and forcing an eviction while the case is at court is not something they are allowed to do.

He said that when the High Court ordered re compensation, the Defence Ministry said that compensation had been given previously. But with the High Court ordering a re compensation, it has to be done again according to the man.

Regarding the situation, the Information Officer of MNDF, Captain Ibrahim Azim said that the eviction is being carried out by the police and so all questions must go to them.

So far there have been no response from the police regarding the situation.

The High Court ruling on 23 May 2017 said that Mohamed Firaq (M. Merry Lodge) was allowed to live in Bandeyri Koshi after he left the service, on 6 December 1994, with the permission of then Commanding Officer and the court recognizes it.

And after leaving the service, MNDF compensated Firaq with MVR 77,383.89 but the amount was returned after he was allowed to stay.

The High Court ruling said that based on how the events unfolded, his eviction does not violate the Constitutional right to housing but since the eviction is being forced without compensation and so the Civil Court ruling will be overruled.