Parliament has approved Hussain Shaheed as a judge of the Supreme Court. The decision was passed with 64 votes out of 65 lawmakers present, after the Judiciary Committee reviewed his appointment.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu nominated Hussain Shaheed for the role, and the matter was referred to Parliament after receiving advice from Mohamed Muizzu. The Judiciary Committee approved his nomination during their meeting yesterday.

The vacancy in the Supreme Court came after three judges, Justice Husnu Suood, Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Justice Azmiralda Zahir, were suspended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), with Justice Suood stepping down.

Shaheed has a strong legal background, having studied law at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and the Islamic University of Maldives. He has held various judicial roles, including Magistrate of Addu City Feydhoo, Chief Magistrate of Hulhudhoo, and a judge of the Criminal Court. Since 2018, he has served as the Chief Judge of the High Court and officially took the role in October 2023.