Supreme Court backs US$22m payout to Dheebaja
A High Court ruling in favour of the state was overturned.
21 Apr 2019, 9:00 AM
The Supreme Court has backed a payout of MVR348 million (US$22.5million) ordered by the civil court in October 2014 as compensation for the cancellation of a contract to provide ferry services in four northern atolls.
The lower court judgment in favour of Dheebaja Investment was overturned by the High Court last year. But the top court overturned the High Court decision on the grounds that the state’s appeal was filed two months after the deadline expired.
The High Court decision to accept the case after the appeal deadline contravened legal principles, a three-judge panel chaired by Chief Justice Dr Ahmed Abdulla Didi ruled on Thursday.
Dheebaja was enlisted during the administration of former president Mohamed Nasheed in 2010 to provide ferry services in Noonu, Raa, Baa and Lhaviyani Atolls in exchange for 47 plots of land to build hotels and ferry terminals.
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