The Legal Profession Bill for the formation of the Bar Council has been scheduled for tomorrow.
The Bar Council is a professional body of the legal profession where all activities of advocates, lawyers, judges and the courtroom are performed and regulated.
According to the Legal Profession Bill, the bar council will be an independent committee of 7 members. The members will be elected through secret voting between lawyers.
With this bill, the Bar will have the legal authority to admit lawyers to practice law and also to amend or terminate their license. Furthermore, they can also take legal action against lawyers for legal malpractice.
The State Prosecutor General, Ibrahim Riffath stated that he is satisfied that the bill is being scheduled for Monday’s parliament session and he is hopeful that the bill will get passed. He further stated that he believes the legislative framework provided under the bill will transform and restructure the legal profession of the Maldives.
The bill was also submitted by former MP of Maafannu Uthuru constituency Imthiyaz Fahmy to the previous parliament; however, it was rejected.