Order to not fill position of dismissed HDC employee voided

The High Court has voided the Employment Tribunal's interim order regarding the case where an HDC employee was dismissed, who had permission to distribute goods that were within the Hulhumale' Water Theme Park area to other parties.

There were items and goods from the theme park that were taken without payment, an action that had approval from HDC's Chief Real Estate Officer. The officer was dismissed from his position as it was against HDC's policies.

The employee was hired as Director of the Real Estate Management Department on 14th April 2024. Their position was changed to Chief Real Estate Officer on 27th February 2025.

The individual had submitted a case to the Employment Tribunal, citing their terminal was against the rules. They also requested an interim order be issued to halt the hiring of any individual to his previous position. The tribunal stopped the position from being filled until they resolved this case.

HDC had appealed the order to the High Court, with the court deciding that the interim order was issued against legal regulations. And so, the order was voided.

The High Court stated that a certain position at HDC should not be held specifically for them. The court's sentence states that as it is known that there are positions in HDC available at the same level an employee may previously have held, reinstatement may see the same level of treatment.

The High Court's sentence also states that even before the interim order was given, the position to be held without being filled had already been dissolved due to changes to HDC's framework. The sentence went on to read that there is no legal basis for a non-existent position, even before the interim order was given, to be temporarily protected from a permanent employee being hired just for the individual that submitted the case.