Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict on Referendum Challenge Tomorrow

The Supreme Court has scheduled a verdict for tomorrow in a constitutional case seeking to halt the planned April 4 referendum on whether presidential and parliamentary elections should be held on the same day.

The case was filed by lawyers Ibrahim Shyam and Aik Ahmed Easa against the President’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM). The petition challenges the legality of the referendum question, arguing that it exceeds the bounds set by the Constitution.

A hearing in the matter was held on Thursday, with a further session scheduled for tomorrow at 13:00. The court is expected to deliver its ruling following the proceedings.

According to the petition, the question outlined in the Presidential Decree and subsequent announcement by the ECM does not comply with constitutional provisions. The applicants contend that the issue should instead be addressed under Article 262 of the Constitution.

During proceedings, the prosecution maintained that there is no legal basis to prevent the referendum from proceeding as requested by the petitioner, and argued that no rule exists to invalidate the proposed ballot.

The case is being heard by a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, Justice Ali Rasheed Hussain, Justice Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Justice Abdullah Hameed and Justice Hussain Shaheedh.