Malé City Council takes legal action against state takeover of 14 lands

The Malé City Council has submitted a case to the Civil Court regarding the government's decision to take over 14 lands under the Council's purview for the state, seeking a temporary order to halt the decision. The Council announced the court submission during a meeting on Wednesday, arguing that the procedures mandated by land-related laws have not been fully complied with. In a resolution passed by the Council, it was noted that the Ministry instructed the takeover based on a letter from the Office of the President. Although the Council was given an opportunity to file an objection, the resolution stated that no details of the planned projects were shared, contrary to the Local Government Act. The Council acknowledged that the Cabinet has the authority to allocate lands within the Council's jurisdiction for development projects, but emphasized that the law requires sharing project information with the Council and seeking its opinion before making such a decision. The law also mandates that details of projects to be implemented on allocated lands must be made public. However, the Housing Ministry decided to take over the 14 lands without revealing any details other than project names and without consulting the City Council. The Council highlighted that these lands currently generate income used for maintaining mosques in Malé and covering administrative operational expenses. Taking over the lands would result in the loss of financial benefits for the Council and pose significant operational challenges.