Supreme Court Rejects Petition on Election Merger Bill

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has dismissed a petition filed by lawyer Ali Hussain challenging the legality of procedures related to a proposed merger of presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to a decision by Supreme Court Registrar Raudha Haider, the petition was deemed inadmissible based on the grounds presented. Ali Hussain had argued that the constitutional 15-day period granted to the President to approve or reject legislation had expired in relation to the bill.

However, the Registrar stated that the 15-day provision applies only in cases where the President chooses not to ratify a bill. The decision further noted that the legislation in question falls under a category requiring approval through a public vote, and therefore is not subject to the same timeframe.

While the court dismissed Ali Hussain’s motion, it accepted a separate petition filed by lawyers Aik Ahmed Easa and Ibrahim Shyam seeking to halt the planned referendum. A hearing in that case has been scheduled for 10:15 a.m. today.

އަޑުއެހުމެއް ނެތި ނިޔާ ކަނޑައެޅުން ގޯސް. ސުޕްރީމް ކޯޓުގެ ރެޖިސްޓްރާ އަކީ ފަނޑިޔާރެއް ނޫން. pic.twitter.com/VODCcFGjty— Ali Hussain (@AleeVoice) March 25, 2026

The second petition challenges the wording of the referendum question, which asks voters whether they approve the constitutional amendment passed by Parliament to merge the two elections. The applicants argue that the question is improperly framed, contending that a referendum should instead directly ask whether the elections should be held on the same day.

In their filing, the lawyers claim that asking voters to approve the bill in its entirety obscures the substantive constitutional change. They further argue that the question does not meet the requirements set out in Article 262(j) of the Constitution.

The referendum is scheduled to be held on 4 April alongside local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.