Attorney General Uz Ahmed Usham has explained the reasoning behind President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to return the Fifth Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act of the Maldives to Parliamant for reconsideration.

Citing Article 91(a) of the Constitution, President Dr Muizzu returned the Fifth Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act (Act No. 22/2010) to Parliament for further review.

The proposed amendment, passed by Parliament, states that judges can only be removed if the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) determines that a judge is unfit for office, submits a motion for removal to Parliament, and the removal is approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present.

Speaking to MMTV, Attorney General Uz Usham stated that the bill cannot be implemented fairly in the current context, as it requires an assessment of the competence of seven Supreme Court judges. However, one judge has resigned, two are currently suspended, and a criminal investigation is underway, making it impossible to conduct an impartial evaluation of the remaining judges.

Uz Usham further stated that some provisions of the bill need to be revised, which is why he advised the President not to approve it and instead send it back to Parliament for reconsideration.