The Parliament has passed an amendment brought to the Court's Act that would downsize the Supreme Court bench from 7 to 5 despite concerns voiced by the Counsel General Fathimath Filza.
The amendment submitted by the MP for Holhudhoo Constituency Abdul Sattar Mohamed earlier in the week was accepted by the Parliament yesterday and was rushed to the Judiciary Committee on the same day.
The Committee voted to approve the Amendment without changing it yesterday while today, the whole house also voted to approve the bill without changing it.
In today's vote, 68 MPs voted in favour of the bill while 9 voted against it.
The rushed approval comes after the Counsel General of the Parliament Filza voiced genuine concerns at the Committee hearing yesterday.
Filza pointed out that the Constitution does not specify the number of judges that should be on the Supreme Court bench and changing it to an odd number does not contradict the Constitution.
Filza however said that the proposal to change the number of judges in the Supreme Court to five is the removal of some judges and it is questionable whether it is the fairest way.
The committee decided to send the amendment to the House as it stands and to ask the House to vote on Filza's concerns. However, the presidency decided to pass the amendment without voting on Filza's concerns.
The Parliament hearing heated up and the Presidency called out the names of several MPs including the MP for Vaikaradhoo Constituency Hussain Ziyad, MP for Kendhoo Constituency Mauroof Zakir, MP for Galolhu North Constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem.
All three MPs were thrown out of the chambers and did not return for the vote.
