Friday, September 30, 2011

The Supreme Court ruling may end the row over cabinet endorsements

The opposition majority parliament refused to endorse some of the re-appointed ministers of President Mohamed Nasheed’s cabinet who resigned en masse on last July. The cabinet ministers complained that the opposition dominated parliament was blocking them from performing their constitutional duties and resigned in protest.

There was a controversy between the government and the opposition over whether ministers had to be endorsed individually or collectively.

The ruling MDP MP’s boycotted the vote that rejected seven out of the twelve cabinet ministers. Nevertheless, President Nasheed was of the view that ministers could remain in their portfolios, as the parliament’s refusal to endorse a minister would not amount to a vote of no confidence.    

The issue of cabinet endorsements caused disruptions in parliamentary sessions and continued to have a political deadlock for months.  

The opposition parties took the matter to the Supreme Court for a ruling and six out of the seven judges agreed that the cabinet ministers who failed to win the approval of parliament must not keep their posts.   

Ahmed Muathasim is one out of the seven Supreme Court judges who has a totally different view on the ruling. He has the opinion that even though the parliament refuses to endorse the ministers they cannot be dismissed from their posts.
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Written by: Ibrahim Nazim
10 December 2010, Friday
4 Muharram 1432

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