The Deputy Speaker of the People's Majlis and Member for Dhiggaru constituency, Ahmed Nazim, has stated that the Evidence Act amendment bill being debated today in the People's Majlis should structure the law to provide protection and security for journalists.

Speaking during the debate on the bill today, Nazim said that Ahmed Aslam, PNC Member for Bilehdhoo constituency who submitted the bill on behalf of the government, has stated that the amendment addresses issues related to source disclosure that have concerned journalists.

"Therefore, after studying these matters, it is important to structure this law in a way that journalists want, or in a way that provides protection and security, and the bill strongly emphasizes that this goal will be achieved through this amendment," he said.

The bill states that among its purposes is to introduce amendments to the law to address concerns raised by journalists regarding the current provisions that require journalists to disclose their sources in certain situations.

The proposed amendment bill includes additional circumstances under which journalists must disclose sources, along with the procedure for seeking orders from the High Court.

This is an amendment to Article 136 of the law concerning source disclosure principles, which journalists have previously expressed concerns about.

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

Therefore, the bill changes this by specifying that such orders can only be sought from the High Court. It also states that the court must make a decision on such applications within 24 hours, and that the High Court must give the journalist in question or their employer an opportunity to respond in 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.