News Desk
MALE ‘— The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) ohas introduced new regulations granting itself the authority to strip chief judges of their administrative titles without needing to establish specific misconduct, raising immediate concerns over judicial independence.
The new rules, published in the government gazette on Tuesday, outline detailed procedures for appointing chief judges but leave their dismissal largely to the discretion of the commission.
Under Section 8 of the regulation, the JSC can remove a chief judge from their post simply if the commission deems the change necessary “to improve the administration of the courts.”
While the criteria for appointing chief judges now place heavy emphasis on legal expertise, social awareness, communication skills, and leadership, the ease with which they can be demoted has raised eyebrows. Candidates for chief judge positions must already be serving judges within the respective superior courts or judicial districts.
The timing of the new regulation is likely to fuel an ongoing debate about political influence over the judiciary.
The JSC, which includes politicians and executive appointees, has faced persistent criticism over its impartiality. Its past decisions—most notably the removal of three Supreme Court justices—sparked widespread allegations of executive overreach and political interference. Critics have long accused the commission of using its disciplinary powers to pressure the bench and align court leadership with political interests.
