The position of the Supreme Court judge is opened for application following Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed's dismissal from the Supreme Court.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) revealed that the position of Supreme Court judge will be open for application following Judge Ghanee's dismissal on December 4.
As per article 148 (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, the President will subsequently consult JSC before appointing a candidate to the position.
The position of Supreme Court judge will be open for application until December 17.
Applicants must be at least 30 years of age and must have a minimum seven years of experience as a lawyer or as a judge to qualify for the post. Applicants are required to be a Maldivian Muslim, and must not be affiliated with any political party.
The salary of the judge will be MVR 70,000 including other financial benefits and each judge will be provided with a car, security, and other such benefits as well.
Judge Ghanee was dismissed following a report compiled by the commission on several instances where the Supreme Court made unlawful decisions. The cases in which Judge Ghanee were involved in were investigated, and he cooperated with the inquiry.
While former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Judge Adam Mohamed were also investigated over the same issues, both judges refused to cooperate with the investigation, claiming that the JSC did not have the jurisdiction to look into the matters. Both judges have now been dismissed from the Supreme Court.
Judge Ghanee was appointed to the Supreme Court last year after former Supreme Court judges Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hameed was convicted for a crime. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Judge Ghanee was a judge at the High Court.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had also previously launched a probe into the judge over complaints filed by an individual indicting the judge as well as four additional Supreme Court judges.
The issue was raised regarding misusing the court's petty cash and sending an employee to Bombay Darbar to fetch lunch for the judges every day. In addition to Judge Ghanee, recently retired judge Abdulla Areef was also implicated.
As this was ultimately regarded as wrongful conduct, the three judges most recently appointed do not participate in these activities.
Those currently residing as Supreme Court judges are Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan, Justice Husnu Al-Suood, and Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed and Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir.
