Government to Restructure Judicial Administration to Ensure Absolute Court Independence

The Maldivian government is preparing to overhaul its judicial administration to eliminate political interference and guarantee the independence of the courts. This reform follows a directive from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to introduce legislative amendments that insulate the judiciary from indirect governmental pressure. The center-piece of the plan involves removing the Department of Judicial Administration from the purview of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Instead, the government intends to re-establish the Judicial Council to oversee the department directly. According to President Muizzu, the previous integration of these bodies severely hindered effective management and created administrative inefficiencies. Husnee Mubarik, President of the JSC and Member of Parliament for Manadhoo, explained that the existing structure led to significant jurisdictional dilemmas and a vague legal framework. Speaking on the PSM News programme 'Komaakolhi', Mubarik emphasized that these changes are necessary to resolve longstanding systemic ambiguities. To ensure the reforms are sustainable and fair, the administration is conducting extensive consultations with stakeholders. Mubarik noted that the government is actively engaging with presiding judges and the judicial courts to shape the transition. He cited recent amendments to the Judges Act as a successful example of this process, noting they were only enacted after thorough deliberation and direct input from the judiciary. While a previous Judicial Council established under the Judicature Act of 2010 was dissolved following a Supreme Court ruling, Mubarik expressed absolute confidence that the new council will be shielded from political influence. He stated that the reconstituted body will be established intrinsically from within the judiciary itself. The government is currently assessing whether to retain the structural composition outlined in Article 83 of the Judicature Act or to introduce further modifications based on the feedback received from the judicial sector. The ultimate goal remains the creation of a judicial oversight mechanism that is entirely devoid of political pressure.