The appointment of High Court Chief Judge Hussain Shaheed to the vacant supreme court post has been referred to the Parliament's Judiciary Committee for review.

In his letter to the Parliament, the President said that the decision to appoint Justice Hussain Shahid as a judge of the Supreme Court was taken as the Judicial Service Commission( JSC) had recommended the same.

The Supreme Court Judge's post was opened after justice Husnu Suood stepped down from his post after the JSC launched an investigation into corruption cases.

According to the procedure for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, the president will have to send his name to parliament once the JSC recommends it to the president, and he can be appointed only after the approval of parliament.

JusticeHussain Shaheed completed his higher studies in jurisprudence and law from Al-Azhar University in Egypt and Akhtayat-ul-Hayatul Islamiyah and then completed his Master of Islamic Judicial Science and Sharia Policy from The Islamic University of Maldives.

He has served as the Magistrate of Addu City Feydhoo Magistrate's Court, The Chief Magistrate of The Hulhudhoo Magistrate's Court, and as a Judge of the Criminal Court. Justice Hussain Shahid, who was sworn in as judge of the High Court in 2018, has been given the duties of Chief Justice of the High Court of Maldives. Hussain Shaheed was appointed on October 30, 2023.

The seven-judge bench comprises Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir, Justice Aisha Shujoon Mohamed, Justice Ali Rasheed Hussain and Justice Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.

Justice Dr Azmiralda and Justice Mahaz are currently under suspension after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) informed the JSC that a criminal investigation was underway.