The Maldivian Legal System

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Part I: Historical Development........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Early settlers ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Conversion to Islam ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Organization of the early State ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The King ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Nobility and the Councils .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Grand Vizier .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Cabinet ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Provinces ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Tax Collectors .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Army ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Foreign interference ....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The First Constitution .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The First Republic ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Dhekunu Gadu Badu and independence ................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Second Republic ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part II: Ancient Legal System and Customary Law . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judges and courts ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judicial process ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The case of Abdulla Vazir .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Prosecution and punishment for crimes ................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Execution of sentence................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement of money judgment ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Recordings of judicial proceedings .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter Two: JUDICIAL REFORM AND REORGANIZATION IN THE TWENTIETH
CENTURY.................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judiciary under the First Constitution .................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chief Justice and head of the Mahkamatul-SharuiyyaError! Bookmark not defined.

Rules of the Mahkamatul-Sharuiyya 1943............. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Division of the Chief Justice ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Division of the naibs .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Avashuverige............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Criminal procedure under the 1955 Rules............ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Annual Judicial Conference ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Rules of the Mahkamatul-Sharuiyya 1962............. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reorganization in 1962 ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The introduction of appeal .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reorganization in 1966 ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Mahkamatul-Sharuiyya under siege................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Abolition of the Mahkamatul-Sharuiyya................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Atoll courts ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Gayooms Presidency and its impact on the judiciaryError! Bookmark not defined.
High Court of the Maldives........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 3: SOURCES OF MALDIVIAN LAW ................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part I: The Constitution ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Basic features of the Constitution ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The supremacy of the Constitution ..................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Presidential and democratic form of governmentError! Bookmark not defined.
Theocratic character of the Constitution .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Separation of powers................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforceability of fundamental rights .................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Interpretation of the Constitution ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Amendment of the Constitution ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part II: Statutes ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
History of legislation in the Maldives ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Codification of Islamic law and English law ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Penal Code...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Family Law Act (Law No. 4/2000)....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Commercial law ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enactment of statutes .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
First reading ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Second reading ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Third reading ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Ratification by the President ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Part III: Delegated Legislation ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reasons for delegated legislation ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Criticisms of delegated legislation ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Parliamentary control of delegated legislation ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judicial control .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Statutory interpretation................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
a) The literal rule......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
b) The golden rule....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The narrow application ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The broad application .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
c) The mischief rule .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
d) The purposive approach ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Aids to Interpretation .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
a) Internal aids ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Other words or sentences in the statute ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Long title .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Preamble .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Short title ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Headings, side notes and punctuation........... Error! Bookmark not defined.
b) External aids ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Historical setting .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Dictionaries and other literary sources ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Practice ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Other statutes in pari materia........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Official reports......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Treaties and international Conventions. ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Parliamentary materials...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
c) Presumptions........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part IV: Judicial Decisions ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judgment per incuriam .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Precedential value of decisions of the same courtError! Bookmark not defined.
Criticisms............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part V: Islamic Shariah ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Position of Shariah as a source of law .................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Hadd offences .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Section 88 of the Penal Code....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part VI: General Principles of Law ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part VII: International Treaties ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fundamental rights and international treaties ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 4: THE COURT SYSTEM..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part I: The Supreme Court ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Jurisdiction ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
a) Exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme CourtError! Bookmark not defined.
b) Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Error! Bookmark not defined.
c) Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme CourtError! Bookmark not defined.
d) Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme CourtError! Bookmark not defined.
e) Inherent jurisdiction of the Supreme CourtError! Bookmark not defined.
(f) Supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme CourtError! Bookmark not defined.
Writ of certiorari..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Writ of habeas corpus ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Writ of prohibition................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Writ of mandamus .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The decisions of the Supreme Court ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part II: High Court ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Jurisdiction ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
a) Original jurisdiction of the High Court.......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
b) Appellate jurisdiction of the High Court ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.
c) Exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.
d) Supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Grounds on which appeals may be allowed.......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part III: Subordinate Courts ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Superior Courts........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Jurisdiction of the Superior Courts ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
a) Civil Court ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
b) Criminal Court ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
c) Family Court ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
d) Juvenile Court.......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
e) Drug Court ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
f) Proposed Mercantile Court................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Part IV: Magistrate Courts................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Jurisdiction of a magistrate court.............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Amendments to the jurisdiction ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part V: Territorial Jurisdiction of the Subordinate CourtsError! Bookmark not defined.
Inter-court conflict of jurisdiction ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part VI: Judicial Areas ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part VII: Judicial Council .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Functions of the Judicial Council ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Composition of the Judicial Council ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part VIII: General Councils for the Courts .................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Sessions of the General Council ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part IX: Tribunals and Arbitration................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Employment Tribunal .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Tax Appeal Tribunal ....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Arbitration .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Jurisdiction .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Subject matter of arbitration.................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Role of the court .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Recognition and enforcement of foreign awardsError! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 5: JUDGES AND THE JUDICIAL SERVICE.... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part I: Judges ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appointment ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Supreme Court ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
High Court ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Superior Courts ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Magistrate Courts ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Qualifications ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Supreme Court ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
High Court ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Superior Court .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Magistrate Court .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Removal ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Independence .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Code of Conduct................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Responsibilities ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Part II: Judicial Service Commission ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part III: Department of Judicial Administration ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Functions of DJA ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 6: THE LEGAL SERVICE .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Attorney General ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
A historical account .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The office of the Attorney General in the Constitution of 2008Error!
not defined.

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The Prosecutor General ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 7: THE LEGAL PROFESSION............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
A historical Account ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2002 Regulations for lawyers practising in the MaldivesError!
defined.

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not

2010 Regulations Relating to Lawyers ................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Advocates of the Supreme Court ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Supreme Court Regulations of 3rd June 2012 ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 8: LEGAL EDUCATION ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
A historical Account ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Law examination conducted by the Ministry of EducationError!
defined.

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not

Introduction of formal judicial training.................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Muhaamee Course ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Shariah and Law Diploma Course ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Institute of Shariah and Law/Faculty of Shariah and Law of Maldives College of
Higher Education ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Faculty of Shariah and Law of the Maldives National University (MNU) .... Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Diploma in Shari'ah & Law ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Advanced Certificate in Shari'ah & Law ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Graduate Certificate in Law ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Graduate Certificate in Shari`ah ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Kulliyyathul Dhiraasathil Islamiyya .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Faculty of Law, Villa College ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Mandhu College ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

The Maldives Law Institute ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Judicial Training ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 9: CIVIL PROCEDURE ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Commencement of proceedings and jurisdictionError! Bookmark not defined.
Parties ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Consolidation of matters .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Summons ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
The claim form .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
First hearing ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Defence and counterclaim............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Third party interveners................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding third parties by court ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Procedural objections (Ijuraaee Iuthiraz) ............. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Interim orders and Injunctions.................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Res judicata ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Trial ....................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The burden and standard of proof............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Judgment ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Statute of limitation ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Costs ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appeal ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement of judgments........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement of non-money judgments .................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement of money judgments ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement against a natural person .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Enforcement against a natural person under detentionError!
defined.

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not

Enforcement against a company...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Interim relief ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Out of court settlement ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Suspension of enforcement proceedings due to debtors financial incapacity
........................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chapter 10: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Commencement of a Criminal Action ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Police Powers .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Arrest, search, seizure and interrogation .............. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Searches and seizures ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Arrest ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Arrest of a judge .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Procedure following arrest ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Remand ................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Interrogation ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Complaints against the police ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Prosecution ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
The decision to prosecute........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Time .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Jurisdiction ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The charge .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Trial and sentencing ....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Rights of the accused charged with an offenceError! Bookmark not defined.
Attendance ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Legal Representation................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Trial procedure ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appeal ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
This book is available from the Maldives Law Institute, Level 2, Orchidmaage,
Ameeru Ahmed Magu, Male, Maldives. Tel: +960 3013200