Attorney General Ahmed Usham has stated that the ratification of the amendment to the Legal Profession Act is an important measure to ensure that the Bar Council manages the affairs of lawyers independently.
The bill was ratified by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on September 3, and mandates that the members of the Executive Committee of the Bar Council—specifically the President, Vice President, and other members—must now be elected from among practising lawyers. This change removes the provision in the previous law that allowed the Attorney General to sit on the Executive Committee, as outlined in clause 6(c) of the original Act. As a result of the amendment, the number of elected lawyers on the Bar Council has increased from six to seven. The amendment also eliminates all references to the Attorney General's role within the Bar Council. To comply with the new law, the additional member must be elected within 60 days of the amendment's ratification.
The amendment which has been ratified purports to provide the opportunity to the Bar Council to operate independently. On a social media post, Attorney General Usham underscored the importance of the amendment to ensure that the affairs of lawyers are managed independently, by the authority which selects lawyers. Meanwhile, members of the Bar Council also expressed concerns over the challenges encountered to operate independently, when the Attorney General sits in its Executive Committee. As such, President of the Bar Council Hussain Siraj disclosed the uncomfortableness in delivering opinions independently, as lawyers from the Attorney General's Office are also in the Bar Council.
Furthermore, the amendment designates diplomatic missions as public notaries, authorising them to certify documents issued by authorities, registered educational institutions, and similar documentation required by Maldivians living abroad.