Government assistance and services provided to citizens cannot be legally characterized as "gifts," states former Chief Justice
Former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi has criticized Minister Adam Shareef for characterizing government services and aid as "gifts" from the President, asserting instead that state-funded assistance is a constitutional obligation to ensure social justice. Dr. Didi emphasized that such provisions are fundamental rights of the citizens and should not be portrayed as acts of personal generosity by any individual official.
The government is set to distribute cases of canned tuna to households for the upcoming Ramadan of 1447 AH. | Local Government Ministry | Local Government Ministry
Former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi has stated that any form of government assistance or public service provided to citizens cannot be legally characterized as a "gift."
The former Chief Justice made these remarks in response to Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar, who has been repeatedly promoting the government's Ramadan tuna can distribution on social media as a personal "gift" from President Muizzu.
Since the distribution of canned tuna cases began, Adam Shareef has been consistently praising President Muizzu on social media while actively promoting the distribution initiative.
In a post on X on Thursday night, Adam Shareef announced that the distribution of the government's Ramadan gift to every household in the Greater Male' Area has been completed as of tonight, in accordance with the pledge made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for the holy month of Ramadan 1447.
Furthermore, Adam Shareef stated that arrangements have been made for those who have not yet collected their Ramadan gifts for any reason to do so from the MIFCO center in Malé, between 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., until the first day of Ramadan.
While the cases of canned tuna being distributed by the government are not funded by President Muizzu personally, it has been noted that Adam Shareef repeatedly describes them as a "Ramadan gift" from the President.
Former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi stated, "This is by no means a gesture of government generosity or benevolence."
He further stated that the relationship between the state and its citizens is built upon legally mandated rights and obligations. In this regard, he noted that public services, social welfare, benefits, and subsidies are provided to citizens through the state budget as part of the government's constitutional responsibility to ensure social justice.
"The services provided to the citizens by the state are not gifts; they are a fundamental right of the people," the former Chief Justice stated in a post on X this Thursday.
