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Fahi Union officials speak to reporters.

Fahi Union says court action required to reclaim Hulhumalé flats

A new committee was formed to assess eligibility, and in February, a revised list identified 1,820 individuals as eligible to receive flats under the scheme.

29 May 2025
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The Fahi Union, a group advocating for the rights of flat recipients, has stated that any attempt by the government to reclaim housing units allocated under the Gedhoruveriya scheme must be carried out through the court system.

The previous administration had selected beneficiaries for 4,000 housing units in Hulhumalé. Agreements were signed with recipients following the finalisation of the list, which had been opened for public complaints from 15 November.

Following the change in administration, the new government initiated a review of the original beneficiary list. A new committee was formed to assess eligibility, and in February, a revised list identified 1,820 individuals as eligible to receive flats under the scheme.

At a press conference, Ali Hussain, representing the Fahi Union’s legal team, stated that the original agreements remain valid and enforceable. He said the signing of the flat agreements under the previous government constituted a complete transaction.

“According to the rules of the Gedhoruveriya scheme, once a flat agreement is signed, the person becomes the rightful recipient of the unit,” Hussain said.

Referring to Paragraph 6 of the official rules, Hussain noted that the transfer of the unit is formalised through an agreement signed by both the government and the recipient.

“This is a completed legal process. The government has entered into binding agreements with 4,000 recipients. Under the Contract Act, these agreements create legal rights that cannot be revoked unilaterally,” he added.

Hussain argued that if the government seeks to reclaim any flats, it must initiate legal proceedings and obtain a final court ruling, including through all stages of appeal.

He also stated that while the units should have already been handed over to recipients, the process has stalled under the current administration. Legal action could be pursued against any individuals who obstruct the handover of the flats, he said.

In July of the previous year, representatives of the Fahi Union met with Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla to raise concerns over the delays. During the meeting, it was noted that 3,778 agreements had been signed with individuals declared as flat recipients under the previous government.

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