Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has confirmed the retirement of Maldives’ Chief Justice, Muthasim Adnan. The decision was announced following a JSC meeting held on Thursday, with further details to be released later, according to JSC Secretary General Aminath Nadha.

Chief Justice Muthasim submitted his retirement request on 8 May this year. In anticipation of his departure, the JSC has proposed amendments to judges’ retirement benefits, including a monthly travel allowance of MVR 70,000 and a living allowance of MVR 70,000, in addition to considering full service to the state when calculating pensions. If approved by Parliament, the Chief Justice’s retirement package would increase from MVR 185,100 to MVR 493,600.

The proposed changes, backed by the Pay Commission and the Ministry of Finance, were introduced by Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdooh and seconded by Kela MP Abdulla Shareef. The committee unanimously endorsed the proposal.

Muthasim, appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 2010, served until his removal in 2014. He returned as Chief Justice in December 2019 under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Prior to his judicial career, he held key positions in the Ministry of External Affairs, academia, and private legal practice.

Rumours of his retirement surfaced last year after he was hospitalised in December due to ill health.