Dr. Azmiralda appointed Supreme Court's interim chief following Areef's retirement

Maldives has appointed a female chief justice, even if interim, for the first time.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir as the interim chief justice, following the retirement of Justice Abdulla Areef- who was also filling in following the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi last week.

Justice Areef resigned as the President of JSC on November 13, with the commission revealing that he made the decision due to health complications.

JSC said that his subsequent retirement is also related to this.

JSC has also decided to submit a motion to dismiss Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, after its committee found proof of disciplinary issues in the investigation into the complaints against Ghanee.

The commission had previously revealed that it was investigating three complaints against the justice.

Furthermore, Justice Ghanee has been suspended for a 60-day period as the commission submits the motion to parliament and awaits its decision.

Judges can be removed through parliament if found guilty of gross misconduct, if two-thirds majority of the members present and voting support the resolution.

If the majlis approves Ghanee’s dismissal, he will be the third justice to be removed through these procedures.

Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Justice Adam Mohamed Abdulla were dismissed through parliament on November 18.