Judicial reform so as to ensure public trust in local courts is of paramount importance to the government, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

President Solih said this while speaking at this year’s inaugural session for the People’s Majlis, adding that doing is one of the foremost priorities of his government.

Solih said that without ensuring public trust in the judiciary by ensuring that judges abide by legal and ethical standards, there will be ‘no stability’.

The president also said that there are a number of changes that need to be brought in order for full-fledged democratic principles to be enforced in the country.

At a policy workshop held last week, the Maldivian Democratic Party made landmark proposals for judicial reform.

These proposals involve limiting authority of the Supreme Court and making the Department of Judicial Administration an independent institution, led by an official appointed by the People’s Majlis.

The proposal also includes expanding the criteria for judgeship, under which the Judicial Services Commission will appoint adjudicators to local courts.