New Judges Appointed to Tackle Mounting Case Backlogs in Maldivian Courts

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sworn in five new judges to the Civil and Criminal Courts in an effort to accelerate case resolutions and eliminate mounting legal bottlenecks. Speaking at the official swearing-in ceremony, JSC President and Member of Parliament for Manadhoo, Husnee Mubarik, emphasized that the expansion of the benches is a direct response to a rising caseload that has hindered the timely administration of justice. Data from the first half of the year reveals a significant strain on the judiciary. The Civil Court received 1,913 new cases, leaving 17 judges to handle an average of 18 new cases per month while grappling with a backlog of 3,218 unresolved matters. To address this, the commission has expanded the bench to 19 seats. Similarly, the Criminal Court faced heavy pressure, receiving 1,098 new cases with 1,626 cases remaining pending. While noting that the relocation of the Criminal Court to Hulhumalé has already improved the pace of resolutions, Husnee Mubarik urged the new and existing judiciary to prioritize long-standing disputes. He specifically called for the expedited resolution of cases pending for more than five years, and those outstanding for over three years, warning that delays threaten to devalue the integrity of the judicial branch. "In order to maintain public confidence in the judiciary, the most important task we must undertake is to resolve long-standing cases," Husnee stated, urging judges to clear aged backlogs before the end of the year. The new appointees bring diverse legal expertise to their respective courts. Joining the Civil Court are Judge Mohamed Nishath, a former Chief Magistrate with 15 years of experience, and Judge Asiya Azeema, who holds a Master of Laws and previously served as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs for the Parliament. The Criminal Court welcomes Judge Sulaiman Mohamed, a veteran of 12 years in the judiciary, along with Judge Ahmed Thaufeeq and Judge Mohamed Abdulla, both of whom bring extensive experience as former Senior Public Prosecutors.