An amendment has been proposed to the Judicature Act of the Maldives to reduce the duration given to launch an appeal against a ruling issued by the High Court of the Maldives.
Reduction of the appeal duration was included in the Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act, submitted to the Parliament of the Maldives by Parliamentarian Hassan Zareer. The bill stipulates that a 30-day duration will be given to appeal High Court rulings at the Supreme Court of the Maldives. The current law states appeals can be launched within 90 days after a ruling is issued by the High Court.
The Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act states the aim of the bill is to ensure all courts and trials operated under the justice system are operated constitutionally. Changes proposed in the bill include allocating a maximum duration of 7 days for the High Court to provide the case report to plaintiffs, defendants and stakeholders after issuing a ruling on the case. The bill also states all High Court judges shall remain based in Male’, although High Court hearings can be hosted in magistrate courts in islands under a set policy.
Furthermore, the bill includes an amendment to abolish the north and southern branches of the High Court. The regional branches had been established during the previous administration through an amendment brought to the Judicature Act.