High Court rejects case against online election processing

The case that was submitted by the People's National Front (PNF) to the High Court was rejected yesterday, where the case states that it is illegal to make use of the Election Commission's (EC) My Portal in applying to run for the Local Council Election, to submit documents and make payments.

Former President Abdulla Yameen's PNF Senator and member of his legal team Adam Asif took the case to the High Court, with the accusation that making it so that all the processes for the Local Council Election being done online is an attempt to restrict independent candidates in running for the election.

Asif also made the accusation that it would restrict opportunities for independent candidates in garnering support.

Asif said that the EC's decision is against the Elections Act, and to order the EC to proceed with election processes as per the law.

High Court Registrar Mariyam Hurusheedha made the decision that the case is inadmissible, stating that as the violation of articles that were highlighted by Asif were not described in a legal light, which resulted in the case being rejected.

While this case was brought to the High Court yesterday, the form submission deadline for the Local Council Election had been reached the day before yesterday.

As per the EC, 2,993 candidates had met the requirements for the Local Council Election and the Women's Development Committee Election. Of that, 1,610 candidates are from the Local Council Election, with 1,383 being from the Women's Development Committee Election.

Former President Abdulla Yameen's senior lawyer and former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed expressed criticism last night over the High Court's lack of a decision as the candidacy submission deadline for both elections had been reached.

One of the questions he had posed was the issue where the High Court had rejected the case only after the candidacy submission deadline had been reached.

"It can be said that there is judgement in the High Court's decision in rejecting the case. Where did this decision come from without hearing from both sides of the fence? Is the High Court the lawyer for the EC in this case?," questioned Jameel.

Former President Abdulla Yameen and former Home Minister Umar Naseer have voiced concerns about the Elections Commission's requirement to use only the eFaas account to fill the endorsement form for candidates contesting in the Local Council Elections.

Yameen told a People's National Front (PNF) rally on 25th January that courts consider physical documents as valid evidence, so the Elections Commission does not have the authority to entirely disregard paper correspondence.

He announced that PNF has now raised this matter in court against the commission, expressing confidence of winning the case.

Umar Naseer, meanwhile, sent a letter to the Elections Commission President Mohamed Zahid, raising concerns that this policy infringes upon the election rights of independent candidates.

The Local Council Elections, slated for April 4, will elect members in 225 constituencies.