Judges of lower courts were sworn in lawfully: Shahid

Speaker of the Peoples’ Majlis Abdullah Shahid has told the President that the judges of the lower courts took their oaths of office lawfully and therefore they lawfully represent their respected posts.

The Speaker made this statement during yesterday’s meeting of the President with the members of the Judicial Service Commission at President’s Office.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Maamigili MP and the representative of the Peoples’ Majlis at the commission Gasim Ibrahim said that some of the members told President Nasheed that his accusations against the judges of the lower courts are invalid. He said that the members vouched for the lawfulness of the appointment of the lower court judges.

“When the President said that the judges should be reappointed, Speaker Abdullah Shahid corrected him and said that the judges have already given their oaths in accordance to the article 285 of the constitution. When I expressed my support to this the President told me that he will not hear my comments,” opposition Jumhooree Party leader Gasim said.

Meanwhile, recently  the Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz also denied the accusations 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.