The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has expressed concern regarding the delay of numerous bills spanning various sectors that have been submitted to the Parliament of the Maldives.
The AGO said that the government has presented a total of 30 bills to the parliament, including a range of social sectors and amendments aimed at fortifying the justice system in the Maldives. Among the bills intended to strengthen the justice system are proposals for amendments to the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Transfer of Legal Aid in Criminal Cases Act. AGO said these bills are still pending at various parliamentary stages. AGO underscored that the bills addressed laws related to the administration of justice. These included amendments to court composition and magistrate appointments, the formulation of a new code of conduct for judges, the reassessment of judges' living allowances, and modifications to regulations governing the evaluation of judges' quality.
Additionally, AGO highlighted the unresolved status of bills concerning the protection of workers' rights, such as the Workplace Safety and Health Protection Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill, along with the Infrastructure Planning and Management Bill. Important bills related to business and public health are also pending.
AGO also disclosed that the government has introduced a total of 153 bills, with 120 passing and being ratified since November 17, 2018. AGO has attributed the delayed progress of bills in the parliament due to the stalled no-confidence motion against Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.