Attorney General's Office (AGO) has submitted a bill to amend the Judicature Act of the Maldives to remove the northern and southern branches of the High Court.
AGO has provided details on the four bills that were submitted to the President's Office to be proposed to the Parliament of the Maldives. AGO stated the bill to amend the Judicature Act was proposed to make it easier for individuals to exercise their right to appeal court rulings.
The amendment also proposes to make the administration of the courts more efficient and remove the northern and southern branches of the High Court.
The two branches of the High Court were established in 2015 and have since been criticised for not bringing positive results compared to the cost of maintaining the branches. Other proposed bills include an amendment to the Judges Act to provide adequate time for parental leave for judges.
Furthermore, AGO submitted a bill to establish laws to prevent the exploitation of endangered species of animals and plants and to enforce international laws on the protection of such species.
AGO also submitted a bill to amend the Water and Sewerage Act to strengthen the work to establish water supply and sewerage services in the country. The bill aims to solve the administrative issues faced by utility regulatory authorities and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology.
The President's Office is expected to review and propose the bills to the Parliament.