SC under fire for public praise of president’s grant decision

The Supreme Court has come under criticism after publicly praising President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s announcement that a percentage of state revenue will be allocated to the judiciary.

Following Tuesday’s Cabinet decision, President Muizzu posted on X on Wednesday that the judiciary would receive a block grant in next year’s budget to ensure financial independence. The Supreme Court’s official account reposted the statement, thanked the President and described the decision as historic for the judiciary’s development and independence.

The court added that the move would help resolve financial difficulties faced by the judiciary and accelerate its work in delivering justice.

However, the repost drew criticism. Former Supreme Court Justice Husnu Suood described the court’s response as unethical, arguing that judicial communications should be conducted through formal channels to preserve the system’s integrity.

Former MP and lawyer Imthiyaz Fahmy also questioned the appropriateness of the court’s message. He said that while the budget decision itself was not problematic, the language used in the post was contrary to judicial ethics.

In his original announcement, President Muizzu said financial independence was essential for judicial independence. He stated that the judiciary would have full autonomy to manage its budget within a set framework, with allocations exceeding previous ceilings. Legal, technical, and systemic changes are being initiated to implement the decision.