The Attorney General’s Office has contested the demand to disclose information of the dismissed 248 political appointees with an appeal at the High Court.
President’s Office had earlier said the incumbent government had dismissed 248 political appointees in its efforts to reduce the government’s expenditure.
Following this, three individuals severally requested details of these dismissals, including their identities, the designation they held prior to their dismissal under the Right to Information Act (RTI). The requests were lodged to the RTI watchdog authority, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM).
The commission requested President’s Office to disclose said information.
The Attorney General’s Office contested ICOM’s decision with an appeal, which was filed at the Maldives’ first appellate court on Sunday. The court however, has yet to make a decision on whether or not it would accept the case.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced his decision to remove 228 political appointees, aligned with the government’s austerity measures, on October 15, 2024.
After this, on November 1st, last year, President’s Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed during a press briefing said the government had dismissed 248 political staff, which included seven state ministers, 43 deputy ministers, 103 senior political directors, and 69 political directors.
She however, did not specify any other information related to these dismissals.
President Muizzu later claimed this decision would save MVR 5.7 billion of the state’s funds.
The current government had pledged to maintain political appointees at a maximum of 700. However, according to the political opposition, the number of political appointees currently would far exceed this figure.