A special task force will be established on Tuesday to tackle the long‑standing backlog of cases in Maldivian courts, Chief Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed announced on Sunday evening.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Judicial Year 2026, the Chief Justice said the courts continue to face a high volume of unresolved cases due to various factors, including limitations in personal jurisdiction. By the end of last year, 13,032 cases had remained pending for more than a year.
He said the judiciary’s most important goal for 2026 is to expedite case resolution through targeted efforts.
Ghani noted that courts are expected to register over 21,000 new cases this year, making backlog reduction even more critical.  
“A special task force will be formed on February 10, 2026 to address the backlog of courts,” he said.
President Dr @MMuizzu officially inaugurates the Judicial Year 2026. The occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the judiciary’s progress and outline priorities for the year ahead. pic.twitter.com/Z5Li0EyWjG
— The President's Office (@presidencymv) February 8, 2026
According to the Chief Justice, magistrate judges assigned to backlog cases will require presiding judges to explain the reasons for delays. If a case is stalled due to lack of cooperation from a government agency, the issue will be resolved through direct coordination with that agency.
He added that every action taken to clear the backlog, including emails and phone calls, will be logged and maintained separately. The initiative, he said, will also help resolve the issue of individuals held in prolonged pre‑trial detention.
“Our goal is to make the judiciary of Maldives a strong and accountable judiciary by 2026, free from delayed cases or backlogs,” Ghani said.
He also noted that the Criminal Court expects to resolve prolonged custody issues by the end of this year.
In late December, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu similarly stated that court proceedings for detainees would be completed before the end of March.