Azim Accuses MDP of Stalling Judicial Service Commission Reform

Ali Azim, the Minority Leader and Central Henveiru MP, has accused the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of lacking the will to reform the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). 

Azim pointed to this as a primary reason for several members of the party defecting and forming The Democrats (TD).

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The dispute unfolded during a debate on a bill aimed at altering the composition of the JSC, presented by the Majority Leader and North Hithadhoo MP, Mohamed Aslam, at the tenth sitting of the third session on Wednesday morning. 

During the debate, MP Azim emphasised that judicial reform had been a central promise made by the MDP during the 2018 presidential campaign. 

He noted that despite numerous attempts, the MDP’s administration had failed to effect changes in the judiciary. This, he argued, was a key factor driving the defection of many MDP members.

Azim went on to propose that none of the three branches of the state should be represented in the JSC to ensure its independence. He firmly stated, “If there is an intention to reform the JSC, none of the three powers will be included in the commission by the end of the committee stage.”

The current composition of the JSC includes a representative of the general public, a parliamentary representative, the president of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Attorney General, an attorney appointed by the President, judges from various levels of the judiciary, and a justice from the Supreme Court.

The government submitted the bill to change the composition of the JSC on June 19th. MP Azim underlined this date, suggesting that the bill was introduced with the expectation of securing a resounding victory in the presidential election to remain in power. 

Highlighting the ruling party’s shortcomings in this regard, the Minority Leader urged a sincere commitment to judicial reform.

He recommended that the JSC be composed of retired judges and knowledgeable representatives from the public, a practice followed in many foreign nations.

Changing the composition of the JSC is a key electoral pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

However, it was members of TD who primarily advocated for this issue during Wednesday’s parliamentary session.