News Desk
The Chief Justice has praised President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for what he described as decisive steps to strengthen judicial independence, as the country marked the opening of Judicial Year 2026.
Speaking at the ceremony in Malé, Chief Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed said the judiciary had long struggled with limited resources, inadequate facilities and a lack of institutional attention. He said many of the challenges that had accumulated over years had now become “obstacles” to the proper functioning of the courts.
The Chief Justice thanked the President for what he called an unprecedented level of engagement, noting that concerns raised by the judiciary had been addressed “faster than anticipated”. He highlighted the government’s decision to allocate a fixed percentage of state revenue to the judiciary, describing it as a major step towards financial self‑reliance.
“We describe this decision as a very important and strong step taken by you to make the vision of an independent and impartial judiciary, as envisioned by the Constitution, a reality,” he said. “The judiciary welcomes your decision with grateful hearts.”
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to review the salaries of judicial staff, saying low pay had made it difficult to retain qualified personnel. Salaries had not been revised for many years, he said, leaving the courts unable to compete for skilled professionals.
Another longstanding challenge, he noted, was the lack of adequate court space. Facilities at the Family Court, Civil Court, Juvenile Court and Criminal Court had deteriorated significantly, with parts of the Criminal Court deemed unusable. The Chief Justice said the government had accelerated construction of the new judicial building in Hulhumalé, allowing the Criminal Court to expand, increase its number of courtrooms and appoint a twelfth judge.
He said the judiciary was encouraged by the expectation that work on a larger court complex would begin this year, calling it a “sweet hope” for the institution’s future.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice emphasised that the judiciary’s constitutional independence was tied to protecting the state religion, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of citizens. He said the courts must remain focused on ensuring justice across all parts of the state and eliminating injustice wherever it appears.
“The judiciary will become such a force only if it is free from all influences and has an independent environment in which to work,” he said.
The Chief Justice concluded by reiterating that judges and court staff were committed to fulfilling their responsibilities, and that recent government decisions had given the judiciary renewed confidence as it entered the new judicial year.
