The greatest level of influence on the judiciary occurred during the previous presidential term, statistics released by the Attorney General have shown.
The Attorney General disclosed details on the actions taken by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) against judges since November 2018. According to the statistics, between November 2018 and the end November 2023, a total of 56 measures were recorded. These include 8 judges dismissed, 12 judges suspended, 3 judges demoted, and 33 judges issued disciplinary advise.
However, from November 2023 to February this year, only five instances where measures were taken against judges have been recorded. This includes three suspensions and two cases where judges received disciplinary advise.
Regarding the statistics, Attorney General Ahmed Usham highlighted that the statistics clearly indicate when judicial influence was at its peak over the past six years. He also noted that since November 2023, the practice of disciplining judges for statements or decisions made in court has come to an end.
The Attorney General's figures come amid opposition claims that the current government is exerting undue influence on the judiciary. The opposition’s allegations came after the Parliament passed an amendment to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices from seven to five. However, it was an amendment introduced by Abdul Sattar Mohamed, the Member of Parliament for Holhudhoo. Although the amendment has been approved, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has not ratified the amendment.
The composition of the Supreme Court has fluctuated over the years. Initially, the bench comprised five justices. This number increased to seven upon the establishment of the permanent Supreme Court in 2010. The count was reduced back to five in 2014 under former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, only to be increased to seven again during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's tenure.
Despite the opposition’s allegations, the government assures that it will not allow any interference in the judicial system.