Lawyer Files Supreme Court Case Challenging Rejection of Rasmaale Constitutional Challenge

A lawyer has filed a case at the Supreme Court of the Maldives seeking a review of the Registrar's decision to reject a constitutional challenge against the Rasmaale development agreement. Lawyer Ali Hussain submitted the case on Wednesday, requesting that the court review the Registrar's ruling that dismissed the original constitutional case on October 13. The original case argued that the Commercial Terms Agreement signed between the Maldivian government and Eagle Hills for the Rasmaale project violates the Constitution. Specifically, it contends that leasing land to a foreign company for 99 years without legal authority contravenes Articles 250 and 251 of the Constitution. Ali Hussain stated that the Registrar does not have the power to reject such a case of significant public interest and that only a full bench of judges should decide on its admissibility. The case also raises concerns about provisions in the agreement that could grant perpetual property rights to Eagle Hills, effectively bypassing the constitutional limit on foreign land ownership. The lawyer is asking the court to declare the agreement null and void.