The Supreme Court has ordered the Elections Commission (EC) to accept the candidacy of an applicant for the upcoming local council election.
EC rejected the candidacy papers of an individual who wished to run for Ha. Ihavandhoo council. The commission rejected his application based on his debt records issued by the court, which showed that he had not been repaying an outstanding debt.
The court later informed that the man had no outstanding debts, and the misinformation had been a clerical error on their part. However, the deadline for submission of candidacy papers had already passed by then, and EC had stated that they did have the authority to make any decisions on accepting a candidate after the deadline has passed.
The man then filed a case at the Supreme Court. The court's verdict said the court's declaration that the man had no outstanding debts made his candidacy admissable. Therefore, the man should have the opportunity to contest in the election, said the Supreme Court. All three judges presiding over the case agreed that his candidacy must be accepted, and ruled in his favour by ordering the EC to accept his candidacy.
