Ali Sameer, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim apply for Supreme Court vacancy

Former High Court judge Ali Sameer and serving High Court judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim have applied for the Supreme Court vacancy that will arise following the retirement of Justice Ali Rasheed next month.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) opened applications for the position ahead of Justice Rasheed's retirement in December.

The application deadline expired at 10am on Sunday. According to information confirmed by Dhauru, Sameer and Rauf are among those who submitted applications for the position.

The JSC has not yet officially announced the names of the applicants.

Sameer previously served as Deputy Prosecutor General at the Prosecutor General's Office. He was appointed to the position on 12 May 2022 and resigned on 28 October 2024.

Before joining the Prosecutor General's Office, Sameer served as a High Court judge from March 2011 until May 2022.

He resigned from the High Court while the JSC was investigating allegations concerning his acceptance of a government-provided flat during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration.

The other applicant, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, was most recently appointed to the High Court in February 2026.

Rauf had previously served as a High Court judge from March 2011 until May 2022.

He also resigned from the High Court during former President Yameen's administration after the JSC decided to remove him from office over allegations concerning flats provided by the government.

The appointment of a replacement for Justice Ali Rasheed will mark the fifth change to the seven-member Supreme Court bench.

Among the previous changes was the appointment of Hussain Shaheed to replace Husnu Al Suood, who resigned after being suspended while the court was hearing a constitutional case concerning amendments that would result in members of Parliament losing their seats under certain circumstances.

Two other justices suspended during the same period, Mahaz Ali Zahir and Dr Azmiralda Zahir, were subsequently removed from office. Mohamed Saleem and Abdulla Hameed were appointed to replace them.

Another change followed the retirement of former Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, with Abdul Ghanee Mohamed appointed as his successor.

Justice Ali Rasheed's retirement will create another vacancy on the Supreme Court bench, with the JSC responsible for the judicial appointment process.