Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo Central constituency, has been removed from the PNC Parliamentary Group’s WhatsApp group for not attending yesterday’s parliamentary session when the vote was taken to accept the amendment to the Courts Act to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices. The PNC PG group had issued a three-line whip to vote in favor of accepting the bill to amend the law to reduce the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices. This was because the PNC leadership had decided to pass the bill.
The Majority Leader of the Parliament and Member for Inguraidhoo constituency, Falah, said that the PG leadership is looking into why two members did not participate in the vote. Falah’s tweet did not specify which two members. However, according to “Vaguthu”, the members are Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, MP for Hithadhoo Central constituency, and Ahmed Naseer, PNC MP for Ihavandhoo constituency. The two members came to the parliament yesterday morning. However, their absence from the parliament floor during the voting time has become a significant issue.
The Judiciary Committee passed the government-proposed bill to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices yesterday evening. According to the bill, justices can be dismissed upon the proposal of the Judicial Service Commission and approval by a 2/3 majority of the parliament. The JSC must submit the names of the justices to be dismissed to the parliament within five days of the bill coming into effect. The parliament must decide on this matter within seven days.
Under the Green Constitution, the transitional Supreme Court consisted of five justices. In 2010, a permanent court with seven justices was established. Although the number was reduced to five in 2014, it was increased back to seven in 2019. Currently, the Supreme Court consists of Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan and six other justices. If this bill passes, it will bring a significant change to the structure of the Supreme Court.
