The Maldives High Court today dismissed an appeal filed by President Mohamed Nasheed in which he contested the legality of the process by which the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) appointed judges to the Hulhumale Magistrate Court tasked with the trial over the detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

In doing so, the High Court has contravened a previous ruling it had issued on 1st April 2013, during the first hearing of President Nasheed’s appeal.

The High Court today said it does not have the jurisdiction to hear President Nasheed’s claim and said that the actions and the administrative decisions of the JSC is not subject to review by an appellate court.

However, the High Court in April 2013 had ruled it is authorized as an appellate court to hear claims against the JSC. We note two of the three judges who made the initial declaration formed the three member bench that issued today’s verdict.