Months after delaying reinstatement of opposition lawmakers, SC concludes hearings in the case

Supreme Court has on Thursday concluded all the hearings in a case filed by Attorney General Mohamed Anil, seeking to unseat 12 opposition lawmakers.

The court will make a ruling at the next hearing, which is yet to be scheduled.

While Supreme Court's controversial order on February 1 said that all 12 MPs retain their seats, the attorney general had requested to temporarily suspend their reinstatement.

The court's temporary injunction on February 18 noted that the delay will be in effect until it reaches a decision on a case submitted by the attorney general.

The attorney general is seeking to revoke the part of the Supreme Court’s verdict nullifying its previous floor-crossing ban, and subsequently reinstating the 12 MPs. The AG also seeks to revoke the part which states that judges can only be appointed, to any court, with the approval of the Supreme Court.

A ruling in the case is to be made at the next hearing, which the newly appointed Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi said will be announced at a later date.

He noted that Thursday's hearing is a 'procedural hearing' due to the changes to the bench overseeing the case.

While the previous bench comprised of three justices- following the arrests of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed-the two newly appointed justices, Abdulla Didi and Abdul Ghanee, have since joined the bench.

Furthermore, the state was given the opportunity to raise any additional issues in the case. Noting that there are no additional issues, state attorney Maasha Luthufee gave out a summary of the case- which is to revoke the part of the Supreme Court’s verdict nullifying its previous floor-crossing ban issued on July 2017, and subsequently reinstating the 12 MPs.