Legal action filed over government decision to reclaim 14 plots of land under Male' City Council jurisdiction
28 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ބުދަ 07:54The Male' City Council has filed for a temporary injunction to halt the government's attempt to reclaim 14 land plots under its jurisdiction, alleging the move bypasses legal procedures. The Council contends that seizing these plots—which generate essential revenue for mosque maintenance and administrative operations—without prior consultation constitutes a direct violation of the Decentralization Act.
From the Male' City Council meeting. | Social Media
A lawsuit has been filed in the Civil Court challenging the government's decision to reclaim 14 plots of land currently under the jurisdiction of the Male' City Council.
The council announced during Wednesday's meeting that it has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction, citing a failure to follow the mandatory legal procedures stipulated in land-related legislation for such cases.
The resolution passed by the Council regarding this matter noted that the Ministry’s directive to reclaim the land was issued in reference to a letter from the President’s Office. The resolution further stated that although the Council was given the opportunity to submit complaints regarding the decision, no details of the proposed projects were shared, as mandated by the Decentralization Act.
Furthermore, while the Cabinet holds the authority to withdraw lands under council jurisdiction for government development projects, the Decentralization Act mandates specific legal procedures that must be followed before such a decision is finalized. Under these regulations, the government is required to share project details with the respective council and seek their formal input and consultation prior to the repossession of any land.
Furthermore, the law mandates that the government must disclose comprehensive details of any project planned for land being removed from a council's jurisdiction. However, the Ministry of Housing decided to reclaim these 14 plots of land without providing any information beyond the project names and without holding any prior consultations with the City Council.
The lands the government has decided to reclaim are currently active revenue-generating assets for the Male' City Council. The Council has highlighted that the income derived from these properties is utilized for the maintenance of mosques in Male' and to cover administrative operational costs. Consequently, the seizure of these lands would result in the loss of vital financial benefits and pose significant challenges to the Council’s operations.
