Muizzu Dismisses Deputy Minister Following Legal Challenge to Thinadhoo’s City Status
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has dismissed Mohamed Raghib Ahmed, a lawyer and Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Environment, and Energy, following his involvement in a legal challenge against the state regarding the city status of Thinadhoo.
ތިނަދޫއަށް ސިޓީއެއްގެ ދަރަޖަ ދިނުން އުވާލުމަށް ދައުލަތާ ދެކޮޅަށް ކޯޓަށް ދިއުމާ ގުޅިގެން، މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް ކްލައިމެޓް ޗޭންޖް، އެންވަޔަރަންމަންޓް އެންޑް އެނަރޖީގެ ޑެޕިއުޓީ މިނިސްޓަރު އަލްއުސްތާޛު މުހައްމަދު ރާޣިބު އަހްމަދު މިއަދު އެމަޤާމުން ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ…
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Raghib filed a constitutional case with the High Court seeking to revoke the city status granted to the island of GDh. Thinadhoo by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The legal challenge argues that the award of city status was based on fraudulent grounds, alleging that Thinadhoo’s population falls short of the required 10,000 people.
The case, filed by Raghib, claims that the population list used to justify Thinadhoo’s city status contained falsified data. Raghib asserts that the list included the names of 115 deceased individuals, inflating the population figure to 10,150.
He also identified discrepancies between the population list held by the Department of National Registration (DNR) and records maintained by Thinadhoo’s local council. These discrepancies include duplicate entries and repeated names with different ID card numbers. Additionally, Raghib raised concerns about the council’s failure to clarify whether any individuals registered on Thinadhoo were also registered on other islands.
According to data from the DNR, the current population of Thinadhoo stands at 7,924. Raghib’s legal action seeks to annul all administrative decisions made in relation to the granting of city status to the island.
Thinadhoo’s city status was announced by former President Solih during a campaign rally on August 30th, and was made possible after President Muizzu ratified an amendment to the Decentralisation Act earlier this year.
