Responded to SC before deadline, AG says
Four Supreme Court judges remain unsuspended. According to the Courts Act, a constitutional case requires a minimum bench of five judges.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham said on Thursday that his office responded to the Supreme Court’s deadline regarding the constitutional amendment case.
Former MP Ali Hussain has filed a petition seeking action against Usham for alleged non-compliance with the Supreme Court order. He has also filed a constitutional case in the Supreme Court.
Ali Hussain has cited Article 124 of the Supreme Court rules, which states that failure to comply with court orders is a breach of court dignity.
In a post on ‘X’, Usham stated that the case against him was filed through fraudulent means. He said the Supreme Court had granted an official 10-day deadline and that the Attorney General’s Office had acted within the given period. He further stated that the deadline does not expire on 28 February, and criticised the calculation of official days.
Ali Hussain later posted that the deadline for responding to the case would expire by official time on Thursday, including public holidays.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended three judges, preventing the constitutional case from being heard in the Supreme Court. The commission, which includes Attorney General Usham and senior government officials, suspended the judges shortly before the hearing on an interim order to stay the implementation of the seat loss procedure.
Four Supreme Court judges remain unsuspended. According to the Courts Act, a constitutional case requires a minimum bench of five judges.
The suspended judges are Azmiralda Zahir, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Husnu Suood. Suood resigned as a judge on Tuesday.
