CSC directed to pay MVR 239,026 in Malé City Council dismissal case

The Employment Tribunal has ordered the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to pay more than MVR 239,000 in compensation to the secretary general of the Malé City Council.

Wajeeh Naseer assumed duties as secretary general of the Malé City Council on 18 February 2024. A vote of no confidence in him was passed at a council meeting on 15 August 2024. Following the vote, the Civil Service Commission reviewed the matter and dismissed him in September.

Wajeeh Naseer filed a case at the Employment Tribunal, stating that he was not informed of the reasons for his dismissal and that the decision was unfair. He argued that the dismissal lacked objective and procedural justice and sought payment of salary and allowances for the remainder of his contract as compensation.

In its ruling delivered last Thursday, the tribunal found that procedural justice had been followed in the dismissal. However, it ruled that substantive justice had not been established.

The tribunal ordered the Civil Service Commission to pay MVR 239,026 in compensation within one month.

The decision stated that it was not reasonable to determine a lack of confidence on the grounds cited, given the short period Wajeeh Naseer had been in office and the scope of responsibilities assigned to the council.

The no-confidence motion was submitted by the then deputy mayor, Ahmed Nareesh, who stated that the secretary general had not carried out his duties to the required standard.

The decision to remove Wajeeh Naseer was taken at a meeting of the council led by the Progressive Party of Maldives and the People’s National Congress, with all but two members present supporting the motion.