Case regarding the reinstatement of 12 opposition MPs scheduled for Monday
Supreme Court issued a ruling banning floor-crossing in July 2017
Opposition lawmakers at the Supreme Court
A hearing for the constitutional case filed by Attorney General Mohamed Anil, challenging the reinstatement of 12 opposition lawmakers, has been scheduled for Monday, at the Supreme Court.
The hearing is to start at 11am. A hearing was previously scheduled for 27th February but was cancelled.
While the Elections Commission had decided to unseat 12 opposition parliamentarians, following a previous ruling by the Supreme Court banning floor-crossing, the court had ordered to reinstate the 12 in a ruling issued on 1st February. Court’s all five justices had signed the ruling.
However, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen refused to implement the ruling, calling it an attempted judicial coup. He has since declared a state of emergency, arresting Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed under the state of emergency, while they were inside the court on 6th February.
While the remaining three justices continued to issue rulings, AG Anil had submitted the case to court, seeking to nullify the points regarding the opposition lawmakers, in the ruling. As well as to suspend the implementation of the reinstatement of the 12 MPs, until the court reaches a decision on the matter.
As per the AG’s request, Supreme Court, on 18th February, ordered to temporarily suspended its ruling on February 1 to reinstate the 12 parliamentarians.
