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High Court issues stay order on Ameen's reinstatement

The High Court has ordered a stay on enforcing the Civil Court's ruling to reinstate former Director of Flight Operations of Island Aviation Service Limited (IAS), Mohamed Ameen.

Ameen was removed from the post of the company's Director of Flight Operations in June 2019. At the time, the company said he was removed from the post as part of the company's restructuring strategy. As per IAS, he was demoted and given another responsibility and was later terminated from IAS in October of the same year as he failed to attend work.

On June 28 this year, the Civil Court ruled that Ameen was wrongly demoted and ordered IAS to reinstate him to the same or equal position within 15 days. The court also ordered the payment of his salary and allowances from the date of dismissal until reinstatement, which amounts to over MVR 8 million. However, if Ameen had worked in any other job during that period, his earnings amount would be deducted from the compensation figure.

After IAS appealed the lower court decision at the High Court, the upper court on Sunday issued an order stating that there were legally arguable points raised in IAS' appeal. The bench, presided over by Justice Mohamed Niyaz, issued the order stating that if a stay order is not implemented on the enforcement of the lower court ruling, the interest of the IAS is likely to be prejudiced. Therefore, no action should be taken to enforce the lower court's judgment until the court decides on the matter, the order said.