Hope is to amend the Evidence Act soon: Miuvaan
The President ratified the Evidence Act on 18 July of 2022
Spokesperson at the President's Office, Miuvaan Mohamed Speaking to the press
The government hopes to ratify the amendment to the Evidence Act to require the court to disclose the source, says the Spokesperson at the President's Office, Miuvaan Mohammed.
Speaking at the broadcasting awards ceremony, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the requirement to disclose sources is a concern for many journalists. When asked by a journalist about it, Miuvaan said that the necessary efforts are being made to bring the amendment. However, he said he did not know the exact date of the amendment.
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and the Editors Guild of Maldives (MEG) have already revealed that they are working to propose an amendment to the Evidence Act to empower the High Court to disclose the source. The MJA is also reviewing the relevant provisions of the bill and making the necessary amendments.
There are many concerns of journalists and the public about the rule in the Evidence Bill.
The Judiciary Committee has met with various stakeholders including the Maldives Media Council and the Maldives Journalists Association. Some changes have also been made to the rules on disclosure of sources in free democratic societies to take into account the concerns of journalists.
The president ratified the Evidence Act on 18 July.
The bill was passed by the People's Majlis, at the 22nd session of the second term of the year, held on June 30.
The amendment to section 136 of the Evidence Bill, after consultation with various institutions, states that, as a journalist, any person who has given information to a journalist on the basis of a promise or assurance given by the journalist not to disclose the source. As such, no one shall compel the journalist or his employer to share any information that reveals or may contribute to disclosure.
Section 136(b) also provides that notwithstanding section 136(a), in cases of terrorism offenses and national security offences, the investigator or the prosecutor general or the accused requests the journalist to disclose the source, in certain circumstances the court may order. The source can be ordered to be disclosed on eight grounds if they are proved by civil standards.
This act shall come into force on the date of passing, ratification and publication in the gazette. The bill was ratified by the president and published in the government gazette on 18 July.
