Parliament's General Purpose Committee has approved a motion to remove a rule preventing petitions on issues already raised in a previous petition.

The motion was submitted by Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdhooh and proposed by Holhudhoo MP Abdul Sattar Mohamed. It was seconded by Isdhoo MP Ismail Shafeeu.

The motion was approved with the support of all nine members present, with one member voting against it.

The change could allow a petition calling for the passage of the Decentralisation Act amendment bill to be submitted, despite an earlier petition calling for the bill to be withdrawn.

The bill would give the Cabinet authority to reclassify land and property under the jurisdiction of city and island councils. A petition calling for its withdrawal was approved by Parliament on Wednesday.