Aishath Rizna, Chief Judicial Administrator of the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), has resigned, citing an inability to work within the legal framework and policies of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Rizna’s resignation comes amid an ongoing JSC investigation into cases related to judges’ health insurance and recruitment.
In her resignation letter to JSC Chairman Hussain Riza, Rizna stated that she stepped down due to the lack of a conducive working environment at the JSC. She criticised the commission for not providing meaningful guidance or a positive vision regarding the administrative management of the judiciary.
“The commission has not expressed a positive vision at the policy level regarding the administration of the judiciary and has not given any advice or guidance,” Rizna wrote in the letter. She also noted that the JSC’s Judicial Administration Committee has not made necessary decisions on key issues, which has hampered the administrative functions of the judiciary.
Rizna, who was appointed Chief Judicial Administrator in September 2020, has previously served as the Registrar of both the Civil Court and the Supreme Court. She also held the position of Assistant Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives.
The JSC has yet to issue a statement regarding Rizna’s resignation or the ongoing investigation.