The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed former judge Abdulla Jameel Moosa and Mohamed Shaheed, a known activist of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), to fill two vacant seats on the High Court bench.
The appointments were approved during a JSC meeting held on Wednesday, though the commission did not release details about the vote or the proceedings.
Shaheed, a former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in the current government, resigned from the post in July. He had previously worked as a lawyer for five years and was an active PNC member following the dissolution of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Shaheed has also appeared on party podiums and participated in campaign activities alongside President Mohamed Muizzu.
Jameel, who served as a judge in various courts for 15 years, resigned as a Civil Court judge in February 2019. Since then, he has been practising law.
The High Court vacancies arose after two judges were promoted to the Supreme Court, following the controversial removal of Supreme Court Justices Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir. The Muizzu government has faced allegations of influencing the JSC in the decision to dismiss Mahaz and Azmiralda, who were removed while the Supreme Court was hearing a petition challenging a constitutional amendment that allows political parties to strip MPs of their seats.
The JSC has not commented on the allegations of political interference or the selection process for the new High Court judges.