Court stays MRM dissolution
In the order issued in the absence of the commission, it said that if MRM fails to bring the matter to the court within the 30 days, the order will be revoked.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The Civil Court on Sunday issued an interim injunction ordering the Elections Commission (EC) to postpone the implementation of the decision to dissolve the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), the political party founded by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The EC on Wednesday decided to dissolve the party on the ground that it did not meet the 3,000 members mandated by the law. With this, the commission has also asked the party not to conduct any political activity.
The party, however, did not accept the decision. The MRM alleged that it was a decision taken under the influence of some people. So, if they have to go to court in this case, they will do the same, the party said in a statement.
The order, signed by Civil Court Judge Farhad Rasheed in the case filed by MRM, stayed the implementation of the EC's decision for 30 days.
According to the five-page order, MRM had requested the court to:
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Order a stay on the implementation of the EC's decision before the court pronounces its verdict in the case.
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The commission took the decision after the number of members mentioned in the act was met, the MRM said in its plea.
MRM had stated then that they plan to move the court within the next 30 days seeking quashing of the EC's decision to dissolve the party and not allow any political activity.
As main reasons for seeking an interim injunction, MRM said:
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May not receive the desired solution in the case
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In such a situation, there is a possibility that the party may not exist, which could cause irreparable damage to MRM members.
Taking note of this, the judge decided to direct the EC to defer the implementation of the decision to dissolve the MRM and not take any steps to implement the decision.
In the order issued in the absence of the commission, it said that if MRM fails to bring the matter to the court within the 30 days, the order will be revoked.
The EC had earlier said that MRM was dissolved after it failed to meet 3,000 members in the two notices issued them. Of the 140 nominations submitted by the party recently, only 66 were valid, it said.
