Judicial Service Commission (JSC)’s request to dismiss the chief judge at the High Court, Shujau Usman, has been forwarded to the parliament’s judiciary committee.

JSC made the decision to suspend Usman for a two-month day period at its 52nd meeting held on July 22, under Article 25 of the Judicial Service Commission Act.

In a statement, JSC said that Usman is accused of campaigning in the 2018 presidential elections including in taking part in campaign trips. During such a trip to Gemanafushi island in Gaafu Alif atoll, he is to have met with the family of a detainee and assured them of his release given that they vote for a certain candidate.

Usman was given seven days to send in a written response to the allegations against him.

Following Usman’s suspension, Judge Shuaib Hussain took over his responsivities as chief judge at the High Court.

Usman was appointed as the head judge of the High Court by the previous administration, in August 2018.