Court dismisses appeal in case of dismissed senior policemen

The High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by the state challenging a Civil Court ruling that reinstated five senior police officers dismissed during the previous administration.

The appeal, lodged by the Attorney General’s Office, contested the Civil Court’s decision in favour of the officers. The officers had been dismissed by a decision of the Police Board formed under the previous government.

Five of the seven senior officers had filed a civil case following their dismissal. The Civil Court later ruled in their favour, prompting the Attorney General’s Office to appeal the verdict.

The current government’s newly constituted Police Board requested the Attorney General’s Office to withdraw the appeal and reinstate the officers. However, the Attorney General’s Office proceeded with the case.

The High Court bench comprising Justices Abdul Maniu Hussain and Hassan Shafeeu dismissed the state’s appeal. The justices noted concerns about the manner in which the appeal had been handled.

Justice Mohamed Shaniz Abdulla, who also heard the case, stated that the prosecution had misused the judicial process. While agreeing with the concerns, he differed from the bench on the dismissal, saying that such conduct alone did not warrant dismissal of the case.

Despite obtaining a stay order from the High Court to halt implementation of the Civil Court decision, the state allowed some officers to continue in service. In certain instances, officers were promoted while the case remained pending.

Legal representatives of the officers questioned the actions of the state, highlighting the inconsistency of promoting officers while challenging their reinstatement.

The officers recommended for dismissal by the previous Police Board were:

Five of the officers – excluding Farhadh Fikry and Ahmed Shuhad – filed a civil case to block their dismissal. Two officers, Mohamed Jamsheed and Ahmed Mohamed, were dismissed in 2021 before a final court ruling.

The remaining officers continue to serve in the police force. Abdullah Sharif has since been promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police.