A motion submitted to parliament seeking to remove Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed has been approved by its judiciary committee.

The committee members made the decision at a meeting held on Thursday, after reviewing the impeachment motion submitted against him by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). JSC made the decision after investigating three disciplinary cases against him, and has suspended him for 60 days as they await the parliament decision.

The motion was forwarded for committee review on Wednesday.

If the people’s majlis approves Ghanee’s dismissal, he will be the fourth justice to be removed through these procedures since the 19th parliament began work this May.

Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Justice Adam Mohamed Abdulla were impeached on November 18 while Justice Abdulla Didi was removed in August.

Furthermore, Justice Ahmed Areef retired from the Supreme Court bench last week.

Hence, if Ghanee’s impeachment motion passes, the entire Supreme Court bench will change as the remaining three justices were recently appointed by the current administration. They are, Justices Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Aisha Shujoon Mohamed and Mahaaz Zahir

As per law, the Supreme Court bench must comprise of seven justices.

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.