High Court has dismissed the case filed by Former President Mohamed Nasheed questioning the legitimacy of the bench of judges constituted by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to preside over the case filed against him to Hulhumalé Court by the State, regarding the arrest of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed.
Nasheed had claimed in his case filed to High Court that the constitution of judges by JSC to preside over his case in Hulhumalé Court was unlawful. JSC, however, highlighted a procedural issue in court, and said that the judges were constituted with the approval of the Supreme Court – and High Court therefore does not have the jurisdiction to look into this case.
Also, Nasheed’s lawyer Ahmed Abdulla Afeef pointed out that the letter sent by Supreme Court approving the constitution of the judges was based on a decision by the Judicial Council, which is made up of the judges of the Supreme Court.
High Court had earlier issued an injunction against Hulhumalé Court to halt all proceedings regarding the case filed against Nasheed by the State, until High Court ruled on the case filed by Nasheed. Following today’s High Court ruling, Hulhumalé Court can proceed with the trial against Nasheed.