Supreme Court judge Suood resigns; cites govt interference
Suood’s resignation comes after his suspension from the Supreme Court bench by Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Supreme Court Judge Husnu Suood resigned on Monday, alleging that President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration was attempting to interfere with the judiciary.
The resignation follows the Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case challenging a constitutional amendment that allows political parties to expel parliamentarians if they change their party affiliation.
Suood’s resignation comes after his suspension from the Supreme Court bench by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) citing a criminal investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Critics have claimed that the suspension was intended to prevent the Supreme Court from hearing the disqualification case.
In his resignation letter, Suood stated that the government was exerting unconstitutional influence to prevent the case from being heard. He also alleged that the Supreme Court was being pressured to decide the case in violation of Article 141(c) and (d) of the constitution.
Suood clarified to Atoll Times that there was an error in his letter, which mistakenly referenced Article 144 instead of Article 141. Article 141 states that no individual or public official may interfere with judicial functions and that all public officials must assist the courts in safeguarding their independence.
The constitutional amendment in question was passed by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentary supermajority on 20 November and ratified by President Muizzu on the same day. The amendment was challenged by lawyer Ali Hussain, a former MP for Kendhoo constituency.
During the first hearing, the prosecution argued that the Supreme Court could not hear the case. However, after questions from the Attorney General and Ali Hussain, the court ruled that it could proceed with the case.
Following this, a PNC MP submitted a bill to reduce the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five, which was passed on 26 February. On the same day, Suood and Justices Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir were suspended by the JSC.
Suood was appointed to the Supreme Court on 8 December 2019 by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He had previously resigned as Attorney General in 2010 during a dispute between the judiciary and the first Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government over the establishment of a permanent Supreme Court.
