Some members of the Peoples’ Majlis have raised concern for not giving the Chief Justice the chance to advocate in his own defense while the criminals are given this chance.
Members of the Jumhooree Party and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) raised their concern regarding the removal of the Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz and Mutasim Adnan by the JSC following the decision of the Peoples’ Majlis. The members stated that they want to know the fundamentals followed in making such a decision.
Kendhoo constituency MP Ali Hussein said that the two judges were removed as per the 154th article but the article clearly states that a Judge shall not be removed from office during good behavior and compliance with judicial ethics and a Judge may be removed from office only if the Judicial Service Commission finds that the person is grossly incompetent, or that the Judge is guilty of gross misconduct, and submits to the People’s Majlis a resolution supporting the removal of the Judge, which is passed by a two thirds majority of the members of the People’s Majlis present and voting.
“Here what happened was the Majlis passed a law enforcing JSC to remove them. This is clearly against the spirit of the constitution,” he said.
Ali Hussein said that the constitution has authority and it is how it followed in other countries. “After the wake of the constitutional life in Maldives following the year 1932, the history of Maldives has not seen the likes of this,” he said.
Ali Hussein said that when the authority of the constitution is violated it is likely to see the government in the next 5 or ten years making their own courts and the Majlis wont be able to have a say regarding that.
Members raise concern for not giving Chief Justice the chance to advocate in his defense
