The 10th amendment bill to the Decentralization Act has been ratified.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the 10th amendment bill to the Decentralization Act on Thursday.
The bill has been publicized in the government gazette upon ratification.
The amendment bill was passed by the People’s Majlis at the 32nd sitting of this year’s third session on November 2.
The amendment governs provisions for the Elections Commission (EC) to hold by-elections of Women's Development Committees (WDCs).
The bill grants the Elections Commission one year from the date of vacancy to hold a by-election for the respective constituency if a WDC seat is declared vacant.
Further, the bill also states that by-elections for the respective constituency need not be held if the term of the committee is fewer than one year at the time a seat is declared vacant.
However, it mandates the Elections Commission to hold by-elections within 60 days if the vacancy results in the loss of the required number of members.
The President’s Office went on to reveal that should a by-election be held, the term of the new member will also end with the term of the committee.
