The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has resolved to recommend two candidates for appointment to the Supreme Court, following a selection process involving twelve applicants.

The candidates recommended to the President are High Court Justice Mohamed Saleem and former Justice Abdullah Hameed, both of whom attained the highest scores in the interviews conducted by the Commission.

The vacancy on the Supreme Court bench arose following the dismissal of Supreme Court judges Mahaz Ali Zahir and Dr Azmiralda Zahir. In response, the JSC initiated a formal nomination process to fill the position, inviting applications from qualified members of the judiciary and legal community.

According to the Commission, a total of twelve individuals submitted applications before the deadline. The pool of candidates included sitting judges, former judges, legal professionals, and individuals previously dismissed from judicial office.

Following a the interview process, Justice Mohamed Saleem and former Justice Abdullah Hameed were selected as the most suitable candidates, based on merit and performance.

In addition to the recommended nominees, the following individuals also applied for the position:

The Supreme Court bench comprises the Chief Justice and six other judges. In accordance with the Judiciary Act, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission. The appointment must then be submitted to Parliament for approval and is subject to endorsement by a majority of members present and voting.