Supreme Court Justice Al-Ustaz Husnu Suood has officially resigned, following significant changes in the judiciary that include a recent amendment to the Courts Act. Suood submitted his resignation in a letter addressed to the President, where he referenced the amendment and the ongoing suspension of several judges.
The amendment to the Courts Act, which has yet to be approved by the President, proposes reducing the number of judges on the Supreme Court bench from seven to five. This decision comes amid ongoing reforms and restructuring within the judicial system, signaling a shift in how the country’s highest court will function.
The resignation of Justice Suood follows the suspension of three Supreme Court judges. Suood, along with Justices Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Al-Ustaz Mahaz Ali Zahir, were suspended due to an investigation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) related to criminal allegations. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) informed the JSC about the investigation, which led to the judges’ suspension.
Suood’s resignation marks a significant moment in the Maldives’ judiciary, with the court undergoing both personnel changes and structural reforms. Historically, the Supreme Court started with a five-judge bench under the country’s initial Green Constitution. This was expanded to seven members in 2010 before being reduced again to five during the administration of former President Abdullah Yameen in 2014. However, in 2019, the bench was reinstated to seven members during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government.
Justice Al-Ustaz Husnu Suood was appointed to the Supreme Court on December 8 while serving as the Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Cases of Killed and Disappeared Persons. His resignation has come amid these broader judicial changes, reflecting the ongoing transformation in the country’s legal system.
