Judicature Act 2010
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = Judicature Act
| territorial_extent = Maldives
| enacted_by = People's Majlis
| assented_by = President Mohamed Nasheed
| date_commenced = 21 October 2010
| passed_for = 50
| passed_against = 4
| passed_abstention = 6
| status = in force
}}
The Judicature Act (Law no: 22/2010) is a law enacted by the People's Majlis and signed into law by president Mohamed Nasheed on 21 October 2010.{{Cite web |date=21 October 2010 |title=President Ratifies Judicature Bill and Copyrights Bill |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/1574 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}} The bill was passed in parliament following 50 in favour, 4 against, and 6 abstaining.{{Cite web |title=islaahaaeku sharuee court thakuge Bill Faaskurumah |url=https://old.majlis.gov.mv/di/download/vote_thafseel/2010-10-04--001_37_islaahaaeku%20sharuee%20court%20thakuge%20Bill%20Fa%20-%20Notepad.pdf |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=People's Majlis}}{{Cite news |last=Naish |first=Ahmed |date=4 October 2010 |title=Parliament returns from recess, passes Judicature Act |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/parliament-returns-from-recess-passes-judicature-act-11910 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}
Amendments
= First amendment =
The bill to amend the Judicature Act was sponsored in parliament by Ibrahim Shareef, eventually being signed into law by president Abdulla Yameen on 11 December 2014.{{Cite web |title=Bill on amendment to the Judicature Act |url=https://majlis.gov.mv/en/18-parliament/parliament-work/77 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=People's Majlis}}{{Cite web |date=11 December 2014 |title=President Yameen Ratifies Three Bills |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/15093 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}} The Supreme Court bench decreased from 7 to 5 judges.{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Mariyath |date=24 February 2025 |title=Bill submitted proposing decreasing Supreme Court Judges to five |url=https://edition.mv/news/39648 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The Edition}}
= Second amendment =
President Abdulla Yameen signed the second amendment into law on 17 June 2017.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2017 |title=President ratifies 2nd Amendment Bill to Judicature Act |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/17973 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}} Following the amendment, the judges of the High Court changed to 11, composing a chief judge, and 10 additional judges.
= Third amendment =
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed the third amendment on 23 July 2019.{{Cite web |date=23 July 2019 |title=President ratifies 3rd Amendment to Judicature Act |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/21638 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}} Following this, the amendment overturned the first amendment and increased the Supreme Court bench back to 7 judges. President Solih appointed Azmiralda Zahir and Aisha Shujoon Mohamed as the new judges.{{Cite web |date=4 September 2019 |title=President appoints two new Supreme Court Judges |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/22054 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}}{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Humaam |date=16 September 2019 |title=Newly appointed justices begin work at Supreme Court |url=https://raajje.mv/62842 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=Raajje TV}}
= Fourth amendment =
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed the fourth amendment into law on 17 July 2022.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2022 |title=The President ratifies the 4th amendment to the Judicature Act |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/26922 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The President's Office}} This amendment dissolved the North and South branches of the High Court and stipulates that all the judges will be based in Malé.
= Fifth amendment =
On 24 February 2025, MP Abdul Sattar Mohamed proposed a new bill to remove 2 judges from the Supreme Court.{{Cite news |date=24 February 2025 |title=Government proposes bill to reduce number of Supreme Court justices |url=https://english.adhadhu.com/article/65349 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=Adhadhu}} The bill stipulates that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will decide two judges that are removed and the parliament will either approve or deny the approval. Opposition parties such as the Maldivian Democratic Party and The Democrats condemned the government and called on the government to withdraw the bill.{{Cite news |date=24 February 2025 |title=Opposition parties condemn government's move to alter Supreme Court bench amid constitutional case |url=https://english.adhadhu.com/article/65359 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=Adhadhu}} The bill was later accepted at parliament along with the parliament's Judiciary Committee.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.mv/news/39693|title=Bill on decreasing Supreme Court Judges accepted|last=Mohamed|first=Mariyath|date=25 February 2025|access-date=26 February 2025|work=The Edition}}{{Cite news|url=https://edition.mv/news/39707|title=Parliament committee approves SC downsizing bill, Anara abstained|last=Osmanagic|first=Ameera|date=26 February 2025|access-date=26 February 2025|work=The Edition}} Many lawyers had submitted a 62 signature petition against the bill and asked the government to reconsider the bill.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.mv/news/39700|title=Lawyers submit 62 signature petition against downsizing Supreme Court|last=Osmanagic|first=Ameera|date=25 February 2025|access-date=26 February 2025|work=The Edition}} President Mohamed Muizzu sent the bill back to parliament for further reconsideration.{{Cite news |date=11 March 2025 |title=President returns bill to cut Supreme Court bench to 5 judges |url=https://atolltimes.mv/post/news/11617 |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=Atoll Times}}