Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood resigned on Tuesday, alleging undue influence by President Mohamed Muizzu on judges handling a constitutional case.
In his resignation letter addressed to the president, Suood condemned the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) recent suspension of three Supreme Court justices, describing it as an attempt by the government to interfere in the judiciary and halt the case.
Suood said all the judges of the Supreme Court were intimidated to conclude the case as the president wished. He stated that since Muizzu continued to influence judges in violation of Article 141 (d) and (e), he was resigning in protest with immediate effect.
Suood, who was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in December 2019, stepped down amid growing concerns over judicial independence following a series of controversial decisions.
The JSC suspended Justices Husnu Al Suood, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Aishath Azmiralda Zahir last Wednesday, just before the Supreme Court was set to hear a petition challenging a recent constitutional amendment that strips lawmakers of their seats if they leave or are expelled from the party under which they were elected.
The judicial oversight body’s decision led to the cancellation of the hearing on the petition filed by former MP Ali Hussain, who sought an injunction to block any removal proceedings against lawmakers until the Supreme Court ruled on the matter.
The JSC said that the justices were suspended due to ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), although critics have raised concerns about the timing of the decision.
The suspensions followed the rushed passage of a bill in the People’s National Congress (PNC)-controlled Parliament on the same day, reducing the number of Supreme Court justices from seven to five. Parliament’s Counsel General Fathimath Filza earlier warned against dismissing judges solely to implement the new law, calling it unfair.
The new legislation does not grant justices the opportunity to respond before being declared unfit for office.
Legal experts and opposition figures have criticised the move, accusing the government of attempting to exert control over the judiciary.