Parliament Refers Ghanee’s Nomination as Chief Justice to Judiciary Committee

The Parliament has forwarded the nomination of Abdul Ghanee Mohamed for the post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to its Judiciary Committee for review.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had shortlisted three candidates for the position following the retirement of former Chief Justice Muathasim Adnan last month. Ghanee topped the list, followed by Family Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed and former High Court Chief Justice Shujau Usman.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu formally submitted Ghanee’s name to Parliament, and the letter was introduced during today’s sitting. Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla subsequently referred the nomination to the Judiciary Committee for review.

Ghanee, who was first appointed to the Supreme Court bench in June 2018, previously served as a judge in the Civil Court and High Court. 

However, Ghanee was dismissed from the Supreme Court in September 2019 under the administration of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The dismissal followed allegations related to the Supreme Court’s order to disqualify 12 lawmakers, a decision to intervene in the Judicial Service Commission’s suspension of then-Supreme Court judge Abdulla Didi over bribery allegations, and the establishment of a judicial council. The JSC had initially suspended Ghani before Parliament voted to remove him from the bench.

After President Muizzu assumed office, Ghanee was appointed as a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

Ghanee and Shujau Usman were among those who also applied for two recent vacancies on the Supreme Court, which arose when judges Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir were dismissed from the bench. Those positions were ultimately filled by High Court Judge Mohamed Saleem and former Judge Abdulla Hameed.

The Judiciary Committee is expected to evaluate Ghanee’s nomination and present its report to Parliament before a final vote is taken on his appointment as Chief Justice.