SC to hear case on primary losers contesting independently

Maldives’ apex court will on Monday hear a constitutional case against the statutory ban on individuals who lose a party primary from contesting independently.

A hearing for the case has been scheduled for 9:45am; the case was filed by former MP Abdulla Jabir, who lost his bid for a ticket from the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Jabir told the media after filing the case in late January that he firmly believes being barred from contesting as a nonpartisan candidate infringes on his constitutionally mandated political rights.

Parliamentarians voted to amend the political party law so as to bar such individuals from contesting in elections in 2013.