Civil Court rules Addu City Council invalid

Civil Court of Maldives has given the verdict that the President Mohamed Nasheed’s decision to make Addu City Council invalid.

The court decided as such on the last hearing of the case filed by Opposition Gaumee Party (GP) Vice President Imad Solih who alleged that the government’s decision to make Addu Atoll as a city was in contradiction to the constitution of the country.

Civil Court Judge Hathif Hilmy delivered the verdict saying that the the Local Government Authority has not yet develop a standard to assess the services and productivity of the atoll so as to declare Addu Atoll as a city. He said that the president is not authorized to declare Addu atoll as a city.

In the public referendum held among the six islands of Addu, the people of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Hulhudhoo supported to develop a city in the atoll.

Earlier, Imad Solih told Miadhu Daily that the Government’s plan is in opposition to the constitution of Maldives. He also said that the people of Addu are against the government’s decision to make Addu Atoll as a city.

Imad said that President Nasheed decided to make the city council in Addu Atoll whilst the islanders had voted against the government’s decision in the public referendum. He said that the government cannot make the city council without the consent of the people and that he filed the case to stop the government from violating the view of the majority of Addu Atoll.

Earlier, President Mohamed Nasheed told journalists that Addu atoll islands Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Hulhu-Meedhoo would be considered districts and a municipality would replace the atoll office.

With over 30,000 inhabitants, Addu Atoll is the second largest population centre in the country. However, as much as 60 percent of some islands currently reside in the capital Male’.