Justice Husnu Al Suood has tendered his resignation from his position as Justice of the Supreme Court of the Maldives. This decision follows the recent passage of an amendment to the Judicature Act on 26 February, which aims to reduce the number of justices from seven to five.
The resignation also comes amid the Judicial Services Commission's (JSC) suspension of Justice Suood on 26 February, citing an active criminal investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
In a letter addressed to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Justice Suood elucidated the significance of the amendment to the Judicature Act and noted the suspension of several Supreme Court justices. Despite the passage of the legislative amendment to decrease the Supreme Court's bench from seven justices to five, President Dr Muizzu has yet to ratify the bill. In addition to Justice Suood, the JSC has also suspended Justices Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir.
Historically, the composition of the Supreme Court has fluctuated. Initially, following the ratification of the current Constitution, the bench comprised five justices. This number was increased to seven upon the establishment of the permanent Supreme Court in 2010, subsequent to the interim period.
Under former President Abdulla Yameen's administration in 2014, the bench was reduced back to five, only to be increased again to seven during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's tenure.
Justice Suood's tenure on the Supreme Court began on 8 December 2019. Prior to this appointment, he served as a member of the Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances, instituted during the preceding administration.