President Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday signed into law a bill that separates the Attorney General’s Office from the Civil Service and introduces sweeping structural changes, including the abolition of the Solicitor General position.
The newly ratified law will come into force 90 days from Thursday and aims to strengthen the independence of the AG’s Office and address longstanding challenges in hiring and retaining legal staff.
Previously administered under the Civil Service, the AG’s Office faced restrictions in offering salaries competitive with the private sector. The government said the new law eliminates these limitations, allowing lawyers in the AG’s Office to be paid in line with average legal industry incomes in the Maldives.
The bill was submitted to Parliament by the government and passed with 64 votes in favour. Lawmakers from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) did not participate in the vote held on 15 May.
Two key changes were made at the committee stage before the bill’s passage. One reduces the required years of service for honorary retirement at the AG’s Office from 25 to 20 years. Employees who have served at least 10 years in the AG’s Office and have a combined 20 years of service in other state agencies will also qualify.
The second change abolishes the post of Solicitor General. In its place, a Deputy Attorney General will be appointed by the President.
The government has said these reforms are necessary to modernise the AG’s Office and ensure it can attract and retain qualified legal professionals.