The Parliament has voted to return the Attorney General’s Office Bill to committee for further revision, delaying the Government’s proposal to restructure the office as a service separate from the civil service.

The bill, initially tabled on December 2, 2024, by Maafannu South MP Abdulla Rifau, aims to establish the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) as an independent entity with its own legal and administrative framework, in line with other constitutionally recognised independent institutions such as the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Despite the Constitution defining the AGO as independent, it has until now operated under the civil service. Lawmakers, however, voted to return the committee report for further refinement instead of approving it.

Under the proposed legislation, AGO staff would be categorised into legal and administrative services, with salaries and benefits determined by the Finance Ministry, in line with policies set by the National Pay Commission. The bill also provides for a proper health insurance scheme and retirement benefits for staff.

The Attorney General’s Office Act is slated to come into force 90 days after ratification and publication in the Government Gazette, if passed. Similar to the Foreign Ministry, which was separated from civil service under the Foreign Service Act of 2021, the AGO would gain greater institutional autonomy under the bill.