President ratifies Third Amendment to Judicial Service Commission Act

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the Third Amendment to the Judicial Service Commission Law (Law No. 10/2008).

President Solih ratified the amendment on Thursday, November 3, 2022. The bill was passed by the People’s Majlis on Monday, October 17, 2022, during the 24th sitting of its third session this year.

The Third Judicial Service Commission Amendment Bill requires the JSC Registration Committee to notify the commission of its decision to pursue or dismiss a complaint within 14 days from the date of the complaint, excluding public holidays.

The bill also gives recipients of complaints seven days, excluding holidays, to present their defense and any recommendations to the commission of inquiry – the seven-day period begins from the receipt of the report of investigation.

The JSC is also mandated to hold a hearing within seven days (excluding public holidays) of receipt of the defence.

In addition, the bill requires the inquiry committee to send its reports to the commission, which the commission will share with the recipient of the complaint.

The bill also stipulates that the recipient of complaints must be given the opportunity to respond to the investigation report before a decision is made.

Once ratified, the law was published in the Official Gazette and is now in force.