Parliament Agendas Motion to Change Petition Rules Amid Decentralisation Bill Dispute

Parliament has scheduled a motion seeking to amend its rules on petitions amid competing petitions over a proposed amendment to the Decentralisation Act that would allow the central government to acquire land under the jurisdiction of island and city councils for government development projects.

The motion, submitted by Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdooh, seeks to omit Rule 257-1(g) of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure in accordance with Rule 272(n).

advertisement

Rule 257-1(g) currently provides that a further petition cannot be submitted requesting the reconsideration of a matter raised in an earlier petition. Mamdooh’s motion seeks to remove this restriction.

The motion has been placed on the agenda as a petition opposing the proposed amendment to the Decentralisation Act has gathered more than 2,300 signatures — meeting the minimum requirement for consideration by Parliament.

The petition, initiated by social media activist Midhuam Saud, calls for the withdrawal of the amendment bill submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru.

The petition has been approved by the Parliament’s Petitions Committee for placement on the agenda of the next three sittings.

The development comes as MPs from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) have also been seeking signatures for a separate petition supporting Hannan’s proposed amendment. The petition is being spearheaded by Seenu Meedhoo Council President Ahmed Shathir.

Under the current rules, only one petition can be submitted on the same matter. Since Shathir’s petition was referred to the committee before it had secured the minimum number of required signatures, it cannot subsequently be brought directly to the House for debate.

Mamdooh’s proposed change would remove the restriction on submitting further petitions concerning the same matter. If approved, this could allow multiple petitions to be submitted on the same issue.

The PNC has not publicly stated that the motion to amend the petition rules is intended to delay or prevent debate on the petition opposing the Decentralisation Act amendment.

However, the timing of the motion has drawn attention as Parliament considers competing petitions concerning the same proposed legislation.

The proposed amendment to the Decentralisation Act was submitted by Hannan and would provide the central government with greater authority to acquire land under the jurisdiction of councils for the implementation of government development projects.

Opposition to the bill has grown through the petition led by Midhuam Saud, while supporters of the proposed amendment have sought to mobilise signatures for a separate petition.