The government has proposed an amendment to the Evidence Act that would include an additional circumstance under which journalists must disclose their sources or how information was obtained.

According to the bill, which is to be submitted by PNC Member for Bilehdhoo constituency Ahmed Aslam, applications for orders to disclose sources can only be made to the High Court. The bill also states that the court must make a decision on such applications within 24 hours.

Currently, the law does not specify which court such orders should be sought from, allowing the possibility of seeking such orders even from a Magistrate Court.

The proposed amendment states that the High Court must give the journalist in question or the media organization they work for an opportunity to respond to the court within that 24-hour period. The bill also includes a 10-day period for appealing the High Court's decision to the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the amendment specifies that applications for court orders in circumstances described in the law can only be submitted to the High Court by the Prosecutor General or the suspected or accused party.

The current law states that a journalist or their employer cannot be compelled to share any information that would reveal or help reveal a source without that source's consent, if the journalist has made a promise or given assurance of confidentiality to that source.

Such orders can only be issued in cases involving terrorism or national security offenses, if it is known that such an offense has been committed, is being committed, or is about to be committed.

The Evidence Act is currently in the form finalized during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government. At that time, journalists expressed concerns and protested against the amendments requiring source disclosure. Although President Solih promised to resolve the issue, his government ended without addressing it. The super majority held by the previous government in the parliament did not make a decision on amending the issue.