Malé City Council Petitions Court Over Government Takeover of 14 Lands

The Civil Court has been petitioned to issue an interim order regarding the government's takeover of 14 lands under the jurisdiction of the Malé City Council. Deputy Mayor Meekaile Mohamed Riaz confirmed the case was submitted, stating the government had not completed procedures required by land-related laws. The Council has also sent a letter requesting details of the projects the government plans to implement on these lands. Among the lands taken are key economic and social sites in Malé, including Sultan Park, Rasfannu, and the Fish Market area. The Council has scheduled a public meeting on November 5 to discuss the matter. The Ministry of Infrastructure informed the Council that the lands were ordered to be taken following a letter from the President's Office, invoking a recent amendment to the Local Government Act that allows land to be separated for development projects by a Cabinet decision. The Council noted that no project details were provided, as required by the Local Government Act.