Supreme court refuses to look into the issue of Dr. Jameel's dismissal
12 އޯގަސްޓު 2021 | ބުރާސްފަތި 08:04Supreme court has other priorities
Dr. Mohamed Jameel | PPM
The supreme court has declared that they cannot look into the matter in regards to Dr. Mohamed Jameel being dismissed from his position as Vice President during former President, Abdula Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s tenure.
After considering the matter, the supreme court declared that this issue is not their first priority at the moment.
However, the Civil Court may look into the matter only after Dr. Jameel presents the issue to court himself.
Dr. Jameel was dismissed from the position as Vice President on the 21st of July, 2015.
According to the issue presented to court, the decision made by the parliament to let go of Dr. Jameel goes against the laws of Maldives constitution Article 100(a) and (d). Furthermore, it also goes against constitutional conventions, the values established by the world in relation to issues like these and natural justice.
In regards to the matter, Dr. Jameel presented a total of three points.
He stated that he was wrongly dismissed after claiming he couldn’t fulfill his duties, that he was not given the opportunity to make a defense and nor was he given the rights to hire a lawyer as declared by the law.
Even the state declared that this case cannot proceed in the supreme court.
According to the statement released, the Parliament’s decisions can only be questioned if they do something against the law and noted that by the power of law, the Parliament is granted permission to dismiss government officials in order to hold those in power responsible for their actions and to take necessary steps to rectify certain situations.
It was further stated by the court that this matter was a part of parliamentary immunity and affirmed that the court is not to interfere in matters that involve the President’s declarations nor the Parliament’s failures.
However, it is possible for the supreme court to look into matters that do not concern the President, but is presented by the person who is in power.
In relation to Dr. Jameel not being given the rights to a lawyer, the court stated that this issue would be passed on to the judiciary to review in order to reveal whether any laws were broken or not. Furthermore, questions are being raised as to which court will now look into this case.
The presiding judge on the case was Justice of Supreme Court, Dr, Azmiralda Zahir.
It is to be noted that Dr. Jameel is also Yameen’s defense lawyer.
