Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi has requested the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to hear the disciplinary cases against him in open sittings.
The Judge made the request when summoned to the commission late Monday night. JSC did not proceed with the committee due to the judge's request, and stated that the commission would decide on Didi's request before proceeding with the committee.
Therefore, a JSC sitting will be scheduled soon to decide on the matter.
The commission stated that Judge Didi is cooperating with the commission, and noted that the Judge had presented himself at the commission even on short notice.
Two attorneys who were also part of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom's legal team accompanied the judge to JSC.
Judge Didi's attorney Adam Asif said the JSC committee investigating Didi'ss case has asked be to notified if traveling abroad, and requested to cooperate with the investigation.
Judge Abdula Didi summoned to the JSC to record his statement regarding two disciplinary cases filed against him at the commission, JSC earlier said.
JSC on Monday made the decision to look into Judge Didi attending to official duties despite being suspended by the commission, and will identify if a disciplinary issue needs to be pursued as a subsequent result of his defiance.
Last week, JSC made the decision to suspend the judge after the police notified the commission of an ongoing criminal investigation involving the judge. The commission is mandated to take action against a judge within 48 hours in case of criminal allegations.
The commission was also notified of a second police investigation involving the judge, and the commission is in the process of identifying if any disciplinary issues are involved in the matter.
However, three commission members have recused from the matter - Supreme Court Justice and President of JSC Abdulla Areef, and commission members Abdul Hannan Ahmed and Latheefa Gasim.
Judge Didi denied allegations against him and filed a constitutional dispute at the Supreme Court, requesting to dismiss his suspension. The top court then issued a stay order on his suspension, ordering all authorities not to take any action against the judge. However, the JSC made the decision to maintain the suspension, stating that the Supreme Court order obstructs the commission's legal obligations.
Since then, the judicial committee of the parliament has backed JSC's decision and will be recommending the parliament to resolve that the JSC's decision was within the law.
In response to the committee's decision, the Supreme Court issued a second order, declaring that all action taken based on the JSC's decision defying Supreme Court orders will be invalid.
