President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that amendments will be introduced to the Judiciary Act to reconstitute the Judicial Council and transfer the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) under the authority of the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the President’s Office today, the President stated that the Government will proceed with proposed amendments to the constitutional and legal framework of the Maldives. He emphasised that these reforms form part of a broader effort to strengthen governance and institutional integrity.

Elaborating on key areas of reform, President Dr Muizzu highlighted changes he considers necessary to improve the functioning of the judiciary. He noted that the previous administration’s decision to place the DJA under the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) was, in his view, an attempt to exert political influence over judicial administration.

The President explained that the Judicial Council – comprising the Chief Justice, all Supreme Court judges, and senior judges from the High Court and lower courts – had previously served as the highest technical body within the judiciary before it was dissolved during an earlier administration. He stressed the importance of reinstating the Council to oversee technical and administrative matters within the judicial system.

He further observed that, under the current system, judicial administrators hold more authority than judges, while the Chief Justice lacks sufficient powers to manage court administration effectively. In this regard, the President noted that this has created significant challenges in the functioning of the courts.

In addition to judicial reforms, President Dr Muizzu reiterated the need for broader institutional changes, including reforms to the legislative branch. He reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing measures such as restructuring parliamentary representation, including proposals to ensure greater participation of women and young people.

The President underscored that these reforms are essential to strengthening the independence, accountability and efficiency of the Maldives’ democratic institutions.