Majlis approves Justice Ghanee's dismissal

The People’s Majlis has on Wednesday passed to dismiss Supreme Court Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed.

64 MPs voted in favour of his dismissal, while two voted against.

While the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) decided to remove the justice following a disciplinary investigation, the motion was submitted to parliament last Wednesday. While it was forwarded for committee review, the judiciary committee approved his dismissal later that day.

Ghanee is the fourth Supreme Court justice to be removed through parliament 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.

With Ghanee’s dismissal, the entire court bench -comprising of seven justices- will see a change. The remaining justice’s -Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Aisha Shujoon Mohamed and Mahaaz Zahir- were appointed recently; Mahaaz was appointed following Justice Abdulla Didi’s dismissal, while the other two were appointed the parliament approved to increase the bench from five to seven.

While the Supreme Court bench initially composed of seven justices under the 2008 constitution, it was reduced to five by former President Abdulla Yameen in 2014.

Following the removal of Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Adam Mohamed Abdulla, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih nominated Ahmed Muthasim Adnan and Husnu Al Suood for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, respectively.

With Ghanee’s dismissal, there are two more vacant seats in the Supreme Court bench; Justice Abdulla Areef resigned last month.