Land Repossession Amendment Petition Hits 10,000 Signatures Amid Coercion Allegations
22 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 20:45Allegations have surfaced that government employees are being coerced into signing a petition to show support for a proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act, which would grant the government authority to reclaim lands currently under local council jurisdiction. These claims of undue influence emerge as the administration seeks to counter public opposition and demonstrate popular backing for the change, despite a separate petition already being submitted by citizens against the amendment.
All cabinet ministers stood to greet President Muizzu as he arrived for a cabinet meeting. | President's Office
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the passage of the proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act in its current form.
The amendment, sponsored and submitted to Parliament by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, seeks to grant the government the authority to reclaim lands currently under the jurisdiction of local councils.
While the petition has garnered a significant number of signatures, serious allegations have surfaced suggesting that government employees were coerced into signing. According to information obtained by RaajjeMV, employees across various government offices and state-owned enterprises, along with their family members, are reportedly being pressured to sign the petition.
Official WhatsApp and Viber groups of government offices are being used to distribute the petition link, with instructions being issued for all employees to sign it.
Furthermore, complaints have become widespread regarding reports that employees are being coerced into sending "screenshots" to their office heads to prove that the portal has verified their online signatures.
The government has launched its own signature drive for this petition at a time when a counter-petition, submitted by Midhuam Saudh, founder of a public NGO, is gaining significant momentum. More than 2,300 people have already signed the petition calling for the rejection of the proposed amendment.
According to the People’s Majlis regulations on e-petitions, any petition that gathers at least 2,100 signatures must be treated as a matter of high priority. The regulations further mandate that the issues raised in such petitions must be tabled for formal debate on the floor of the Parliament.
Opposition figures and members of the general public are expressing growing concern over proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act, warning that the changes will effectively strip local councils of their powers. Despite these concerns, the government is reportedly using its influence to create a public perception of widespread support for the legislative reform.
