The Parliament has voted to accept a bill proposing to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices from seven to five.
The bill, submitted as a private member’s bill by PNC MP Abdus Sattar Mohamed of Holhudhoo constituency, received strong support, with 64 members voting in favor and 12 members opposing the motion. The PNC has officially backed the bill despite it being introduced individually.
MP Sattar stated that the bill aims to restore the Supreme Court to its original composition when it was first established in 2008, believing that this change would better serve the Maldivian people.
The composition of the Supreme Court has changed multiple times in recent years. Initially, the court had five justices, but this was increased to seven during President Mohamed Nasheed’s tenure. Under President Abdulla Yameen, the number was reduced back to five, before being raised to seven again under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who also replaced the entire Supreme Court bench.
The bill’s introduction comes as the Supreme Court is currently hearing a case challenging the constitutional amendment related to parliamentary seats.