The prime monitoring wing of all local councils - Local Government Authority (LGA) - in a surprising move has ordered suspension on all the active members of Gaaf Alif council.
The authority decided to place all of Gaaf Alif atoll council's members under temporary suspension due to their unauthorized meeting with the Indian Ambassador.
In a letter signed by the CEO of LGA Mohamed Shafeeq, the authority had sternly criticized Gaaf Alif council members for meeting with a foreign ambassador in violation to the regulations cited by them - stating that local council members can meet foreign diplomats, ambassadors and equivalent dignitaries post permission from LGA.
All members of the council have been ordered a temporary suspension of three months during which they will not be subjected to remuneration while they have been relieved of their official responsibilities.
The members are prohibited from accessing the council premises during the suspension period with the exemption of receiving service as a civilian.
On Monday LGA had circulated newly minted order citing that council members can meet foreign dignitaries post receiving permission from Home Ministry - through LGA.
This has become a concerning matter for several foreign ambassadors which had included both US and UK ambassadors and stated such a move stands in violation with democratic transparency and in-discrimination.
