Judges and lawyers in the Maldives are not sufficiently independent from ‘external influence’ and interferences, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul has said.
Her remarks came amidst the controversy surrounding the trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed. As part of a wider review of the Maldives justice system, Knaul said the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) mandated with the appointment, transfer and removal of judges was unable to perform its constitutional duty adequately in its current form.
‘I have heard from numerous sources that the current composition of the JSC is inadequate and politicised. Because of this politicisation, the Commission has been subjected to all sorts of external influence and consequently has been unable to function properly,’ Knaul said. Her comment was among a number of preliminary observations on the Maldives’ judiciary and wider legal ecosystem.
Her remarks came amidst the controversy surrounding the trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed. As part of a wider review of the Maldives justice system, Knaul said the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) mandated with the appointment, transfer and removal of judges was unable to perform its constitutional duty adequately in its current form.
‘I have heard from numerous sources that the current composition of the JSC is inadequate and politicised. Because of this politicisation, the Commission has been subjected to all sorts of external influence and consequently has been unable to function properly,’ Knaul said. Her comment was among a number of preliminary observations on the Maldives’ judiciary and wider legal ecosystem.