Forms had been submitted by two Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) members at Civil Court appealing the return of the party to its former leader, the former Maldivian President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Supreme Court has ruled today to dismiss these forms.

The appeal to return ownership of PPM to President Maumoon had been submitted to Civil Court by members Ahmed Rasheed and Ali Ahmed last October.

The Supreme Court had then moved to seize all documents regarding the matter and conducted preliminary hearings within the court to reach a final decision.

While the hearing at Supreme Court today consisted of the Chief Justice and five judges on bench, the final ruling was declared by the Chief Justice, Dr. Abdulla Didi. The Chief Justice said that while rulings of higher courts cannot be further addressed by the lower courts, Civil Court does not have the jurisdiction to look into these two cases.  

As such, The Chief Justice declared that the Supreme Court has ruled to dismiss the appeal forms submitted in these two cases. He also said that the bench of five Supreme Court judges had also unanimously concurred with this ruling.

The Chief Justice has declared the the Supreme Court as well as High Court are in support of the previous decision by Civil Court regarding the matter. The Civil Court had ruled that PPM belongs to former President of Maldives and current leader of the party, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The Chief Justice also noted that Supreme Court and High Court had recently ruled that the Special Congress of PPM was valid. Elections Commission had initially submitted a case claiming that PPM’s Special Congress was invalid.

As such, the Chief Justice has said today that the Supreme Court has already sought out prior solutions regarding the case pleading PPM’s return to President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.