AGO Submits Bills to Change JSC Composition

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has recently introduced bills aimed at altering the composition of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) by reducing the number of its members.
The proposed changes to the JSC’s composition are in line with a presidential commitment made by the current administration. The AGO has disclosed that it has submitted two amendment bills that seek to eliminate the positions of the Speaker of Parliament, the President of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Representative of the President, while also reducing the total number of members to seven.
This decision follows a series of consultations conducted by the AGO, which involved engagement with judiciary members, legal professionals, civil society organizations, and the general public. The primary goal of these proposed amendments is to reform the JSC and safeguard the independence of the judiciary by shielding it from potential influence by other branches of the state.
Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath emphasized the significance of judicial reform as a key commitment of the current administration. He highlighted that since 2019, a total of nine bills pertaining to the JSC have been submitted to Parliament. The introduction of the two new bills signals a comprehensive effort to bring about substantial reform within the commission.
Presently, the JSC comprises ten members, including the Speaker of Parliament, representative judges from the Supreme Court, High Court, and lower courts, representatives from the President and the Parliament, the President of the CSC, the Attorney General, a lawyer, and a member of the public.