High Court Chief Judge Hussain Shaheed’s nomination for a vacant Supreme Court seat has been referred to Parliament’s Judiciary Committee for review. 

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu submitted Justice Shaheed’s name to the Parliament following a recommendation from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The vacancy in Supreme Court arose following Justice Husnu Suood’s resignation amid a corruption investigation launched by JSC.

Additionally, Justices Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Ali Zahir are currently suspended due to an ongoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation 

Alongside Judge Shaheed, former Civil Court Judge Mariyam Nihayath has been nominated for the position. According to the judicial appointment process, the President must formally propose a candidate to parliament following JSC recommendation, and the appointment is finalised with Parliamentary approval.

Judge Hussain Shaheed holds a degree in Jurisprudence and Law from Al-Azhar University in Egypt and a Master’s in Islamic Judicial Science and Sharia Policy from the Islamic University of Maldives. His judicial career includes roles as Magistrate of Addu City Feydhoo Magistrate’s Court, Chief Magistrate of Hulhudhoo Magistrate’s Court, Judge at the Criminal Court, and High Court Judge, a position he was appointed to in 2018. He was appointed Chief Judge of the High Court in October 2023.

The nomination will now be reviewed by the Parliament Judiciary Committee, after which a final vote will determine the appointment.