Court schedules hearing for MP disqualification case next week
Supreme Court has scheduled a second hearing for a legal challenge against a constitutional amendment regarding the removal of lawmakers from office. Passed in November 2024, the law mandates that MPs lose their seats if expelled from their party, subject to a constituent referendum. Lawyer Ali Hussain filed the petition to annul the amendment, with the opposition MDP intervening in the case. The proceedings resume following concerns over significant judicial delays.
Supreme Court Bench | Raajje MV
The High Court has scheduled a hearing for next week regarding the constitutional amendment that mandates Members of Parliament lose their seats if they are expelled from their political party.
The case is set to proceed with its second hearing. The session is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
In November 2024, the People’s Majlis passed an amendment to the Constitution stipulating that a Member of Parliament will immediately lose their seat if they are expelled from their political party, without the requirement of a public referendum. The bill to amend the Constitution was introduced on behalf of the government by Ibrahim Shujau, the Member of Parliament for the Baarah constituency.
Shujau proposed a constitutional amendment stipulating that a Member of Parliament would only lose their seat following expulsion from their party if a public vote determines they should be removed from office. The People's Majlis passed this constitutional amendment on November 20, 2024. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the amendment on the same day.
The proposed amendment to Article 73 of the Constitution stipulates that if a Member of Parliament is dismissed from the political party they represent in accordance with the law, they shall only lose their seat if a majority of the constituents in their elected district vote in favor of their removal through a public referendum conducted as prescribed by law.
Former Member of Parliament for the Kendhoo constituency and prominent lawyer Ali Hussain filed a petition with the Supreme Court on November 24 to annul a recent constitutional amendment. The main opposition party, MDP, has since intervened in the case. The first hearing of the case, presided over by a full bench of seven Supreme Court justices, was held in February of last year. Ali Hussain has previously expressed concern over the significant delays in the legal proceedings.
