Judges appointed to High Court and Criminal Court

New judges have been appointed to the High Court and Criminal Court, days after reports of a judge shortage holding up cases.

Mohamed Niyaz, the chief magistrate of the Haa Dhaal Judicial Area, was appointed to the High Court. Seenu Feydhoo magistrate Hussain Shaheed and Ahmed Hailam from Seenu Hithadhoo were appointed to the Criminal Court.

The Judicial Service Commission made the appointments Wednesday in its  fourth meeting of the  year, according to Avas.

The appointments come as courts struggle to hear cases due to a judge shortage. Last August, the Supreme Court ordered three judges in the south to return to the capital and help out with a backlog.

Last month, they were transferred back to Addu after the three-month period given by the Supreme Court expired.

The appointment of Niyaz brings the number of high court judges in the capital back to the required five.

The judiciary was tasked with setting up two regional branches due to legal changes approved by parliament more than two years ago, dividing the nine-judge appeals court into three branches.

Under the amendments, a branch of the High Court was to be set up in the north and south. The northern branch is so far not active and no judges have been appointed.