Vast majority of judges sign petition over judicial concerns

An overwhelming 88 percent of judges have signed a petition highlighting their concerns with the judiciary. 

The petition, signed by 170 judges out of the total of 193, was submitted to the Judicial Service Commission by the Judges’ Association on Sunday. 

The JSC, which has the mandate to investigate complaints against judges, announced that the commission will first meet with the Judges’ Association before taking any action regarding the petition. 

“The Judicial Service Commission discussed the petition with the members and decided to meet with the Judges’ Association. 

The Judges’ Association moved into overdrive last month when the Supreme Court rejected the government’s plans to reform the judiciary. 

President of the Judges’ Association, High Court Judge Shuaib Hussain Zakariya, has welcomed government efforts to reform the judiciary and has vowed to support the process. 

The Supreme Court, however, has declared the Judges’ Association to be illegal. 

Meanwhile, the judicial watchdog is investigating Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Didi, Family Court Chief Judge Hassan Saeed and Mohamed Raqib, who is the chief magistrate of Kaafu atoll.

Didi is accused of taking a US$1 million bribe to sentence former President Mohamed Nasheed to 13 years in jail.

He is also suspected of receiving stolen money from the MVR1.3 billion ($84.1 million) Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation corruption scam.

Saeed is accused of obstructing an internal investigation into sexual harassment against a female employee of the court, while Raqib has five cases against him, the details of which have not been disclosed.