A resolution has been submitted to the People’s Majlis against the guidelines set by the Supreme Court, obstructing the rights guaranteed to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) in 2015.

The resolution was submitted by Hinnavaru constituency MP Jeehan Mahmood, a former member of the commission.

Following the Suo moto case against the commission in 2015, Supreme Court had in June the same year, issued an order of guidelines directed to HRCM.

The court had looked into a Suo moto case against HRCM and compiled a guideline with 11 factors on which work of the commission required to be based on, after the 2014 Universal Periodic Review.

The resolution proposed by MP Jeehan states that rights guaranteed to the commission under the Maldives constitution have been obstructed following these guidelines. In addition, it reads that orders narrowing the rights guaranteed to any independent institution under the constitution, are illegal. As such, the Suo moto case against HRCM was carried out unlawfully, MP Jeehan stressed.

Further, the resolution seeks to take measures to hold independent institutions responsible and accountable if they do not carry out their responsibilities dutifully.