Judges were appointed in accordance with the law: Chief Justice

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz has denied the recent claims of President Mohamed Nasheed that the lower court Judges were not appointed as per the Constitution and law.

Faiz dismissed the claims of the President and said that the appointment, promotion and transfer of Judges other than the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court is a mandate of the  Judicial Service Commission (JSC) specified under law number 10/2008 Judicial Service Commission Act and in the constitution adopted on 7th august of 2008. He added that that all judges were appointed and sworn in according to rules and regulations put forth by the JSC.

“Those judges are authorized to hear and decide cases in a court of law; charged with the administration of justice within the confines of the constitution and law. Up until now the three powers of states and all independent bodies have accepted this. The rulings, orders of the courts of law and the pledges such as marriages and divorces made in the courts have been implemented in this regard,” he said.

“Making rules regarding schemes for recruitment and procedures for the appointment of Judges; ethical standards of Judges; providing for such matters as are necessary or expedient for the exercise, performance and discharge of the duties and responsibilities and regulation regarding conflict of interest cases and any other rules and regulations that may be necessary from time to time are from the mandates of the JSC. No state institution other than the JSC has the legal authority for this,” the Chief Justice said.

Faiz stressed that the government has no legal authority to challenge or cause undue influence on the verdicts of the courts of law.