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Former Supreme Court Justices; Azmiralda (right), Mahaz (center), and Suood (left) - Photo: President Office

MALE : The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a resolution to Parliament calling for an inquiry and action against the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after authorities closed the criminal case against two dismissed Supreme Court judges.

Galolhu Uthuru MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) submitted the motion following the decision to file and close the case due to insufficient criminal evidence. The resolution asserts that former Justices Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir were removed from office based on unproven allegations without a proper legal foundation.

Former Justice Husnu Al Suood resigned during the JSC investigation citing government interference, while Mahaz and Azmiralda were dismissed by Parliament in May 2025.

The judges were initially suspended while preparing to hear a challenge against constitutional amendments on anti-defection, which allowed the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) to automatically strip seats from lawmakers who switch or are expelled from their party after being passed and ratified within a single day. Following changes to the Supreme Court bench, the court ultimately decided the case in favour of the state.

The JSC composition is politically dominated by the ruling PNC, as its ex officio and appointed seats, including the Speaker of Parliament, the President of the Civil Service Commission, the Attorney General, a political appointee by the President, and parliamentary representatives. This gives the government a controlling supermajority over judicial appointments, investigations, and dismissals.

The MDP motion highlights that under Maldivian law, judges should not be removed from office without proven misconduct or criminal wrongdoing, and demands that Parliament hold the JSC accountable.