JSC withholds Supreme Court candidate scores citing privacy
Following the interviews, Abdulla Hameed and Mohamed Saleem received the highest evaluations and were subsequently appointed to the Supreme Court.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has declined to release the individual marks awarded to candidates interviewed for recent vacancies on the Supreme Court bench, citing personal information protections under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Twelve individuals contested for the two vacant positions. Following the interviews, Abdulla Hameed and Mohamed Saleem received the highest evaluations and were subsequently appointed to the Supreme Court.
In response to an RTI request from Dhauru, the JSC stated in a letter issued on Thursday that the individual scores are considered personal data and therefore cannot be made public without consent. The commission cited Article 23 of the RTI Act, which restricts the disclosure of third-party personal information without their permission unless approved by a designated review committee in the public interest.
Two positions on the seven-member bench became vacant after the dismissal of Justices Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir. Both were removed following a misconduct investigation initiated by the JSC. Parliament, which is dominated by the People’s National Congress (PNC), voted for their removal on 14 May.
The dismissals followed a recommendation by Parliament’s Counsel General Fathimath Filza, who advised that the JSC’s initiation of the disciplinary process was not legally sound. Alongside Azmiralda and Mahaz, former Justice Husnu Suood was also suspended in February. Suood later resigned, citing alleged government interference in the judiciary—an allegation the government has denied.
The suspensions occurred as the Supreme Court was preparing to review a case related to the suspension of a new constitutional amendment, which could affect the retention of parliamentary seats following party expulsions. The case has since stalled.
Suood’s resignation left three seats vacant. He had been appointed to the Supreme Court by the former President while serving as Chief Justice of the High Court.
According to the Judicature Act, the JSC is responsible for interviewing candidates for Supreme Court appointments. The names are then forwarded to the President, who submits the nominations to Parliament. Once Parliament grants approval, the President must appoint the selected candidates within seven days. The President may also propose candidates to the JSC for consideration.
