President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sought the counsel of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on appointing Ahmed Muthasim Adnan as the Chief Justice, as well as Husnu Suood and Abdul Rauf Ibrahim as Supreme Court Judges. The president made the announcement in a tweet on Thursday.
He is seeking the counsel of JSC on three new appointments to the Supreme Court bench, after the parliament passed a motion to dismiss former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Justice Adam Mohamed, while Justice Abdulla Areef retired from duty.
Ahmed Muthasim Adnan had served as a Supreme Court Judge until 2014. He was dismissed by the parliament following an amendment made to the Judicature Act to reduce the number of judges at the apex court to five.
Husnu Suood is the President of the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances formed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih last year. Abdul Rauf Ibrahim is currently serving as a judge at High Court of Maldives.
The president sought the counsel of JSC on appointing Muthasim, Suood and Rauf to the Supreme Court shortly after deadline for applications passed on November 28. According to the Constitution of Maldives, judges can be appointed to the Supreme Court after the president nominates their names to the parliament upon the counsel of JSC.
Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir is currently administering the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Areef. Other judges currently serving on the Supreme Court bench are Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir and Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed. The Parliamentary Committee on Judiciary has recently decided to dismiss Justice Abdul Ghani from the apex court.