The Maldives High Court accepts the constitutional petition against Gulper Shark Fishery

• When the High Court informed on 25 June 2026 that the High Court Registrar’s second decision to reject the petition had been revoked by a panel of judges, we got the opportunity to resubmit the case within the following 10 day period.

• Therefore, on 29 June 2026, the petition was resubmitted to the High Court.

• On 30 June 2026, the High Court informed that the petition has been accepted by the Court.

• Currently, the administrative processes are being completed during the 8 day timeframe set for this.

Media coverage of this news:

MV+ Media (Instagram) (English)
Sosal.mv (Instagram) (English)
Mihaaru News (Dhivehi)
The Edition (English)

High Court Judges revoke the Registrar’s decision to reject the 2nd petition in the Gulper Shark Fishery constitutional case

• Following the High Court Registrar’s decision to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in the Maldives for a second time, a request to review the Registrar’s decision was submitted to the High Court on 23 April 2026.

• On 16 June 2026, a letter was submitted to the High Court raising concerns about the long delay in reaching a decision on the matter.

• Today, 25 June 2026, we received notice of the Judges’ decision from the High Court by email.

• The unanimous decision made by the 3-judge bench states that:
“As detailed information is provided explaining the reasons Article 22 of the Constitution is contravened, the matter should be accepted.”
The 3-judge bench includes:
1) Judge Uz. Ismail Shafeeu (Chair)
2) Judge Uz. Hussain Mazeed
3) Judge Uz. Hassan Shafeeu

• The petition will be resubmitted to the High Court in accordance with s. 29 (f) of the High Court Regulation (2011) which states that a 10 day period is given for this following the receipt of notice of the court’s decision.
Updates on case progress will continue to be shared on Miveshi.

• This constitutional case regarding Gulper Shark Fishery in Maldives was first submitted to the High Court on 9 December 2025. The process of getting the case accepted by the High Court has taken over 6 months.

2nd Request For Review

Following the High Court Registrar’s decision to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in the Maldives for a second time, a request to review the Registrar’s decision was submitted to the High Court today.
In addition, a press statement has been issued today outlining serious concerns about the manner in which the High Court Registrar is dealing with this petition.

Our Press Release (in Dhivehi, English translation pending)

High Court Registrar 2nd Rejection

Decision of the High Court Registrar to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in Maldives for a second time.
Decision of the Registrar, 95-CR/INDIV/2026/244 (Dhivehi)

Local news coverage

– Sun Online
– Mihaaru
– Dhauru News
– Edition

Gulper Shark Fishery Case – Judges’ decision & re-application

• Following the High Court Registrar’s decision to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in the Maldives, a request to review the Registrar’s decision was submitted to the High Court on 21 December 2025, as per Section 51 of the Judicature Act (Law No. 22/2010).

• Section 17 (c) of the High Court Regulation provides that in such circumstances, “a decision will be made by a panel consisting of an uneven number of High Court judges”.

However, the fact that there is no time period specified for this process remains a concern.

• On 22 January 2026, a response was received from the High Court to the request to review the Registar’s decision. In this response, a 3 judge panel made the decision that there were no grounds to review the Registrar’s decision. The 3 judges are:

1 – Judge Abdullah Jameel Moosa
2 – Judge Fathimath Farheeza
3 – Judge Ibrahim Mahir

• Notably, the decision made by this 3-judge panel did not directly consider the points used by the Registrar to reach her decision. Instead, certain additional points were observed. Among these, it was observed that Constitutional matters involving the ‘public interest’ fall outside the jurisdiction of the High Court.

• In connection with the judges decision, the petition submitted on 9 December 2025 was reviewed and revised. The revised petition was submitted to the High Court on 2 February 2026.

• Therefore, being convinced that opening a Gulper Shark Fishery in the Maldives contravenes the Maldives Constitution and other laws, a Constitutional petition was once again submitted to the Maldives High Court.

• At the time of this update, the petition remains pending a decision by the High Court Registrar.

• Miveshi will continue to provide updates on the progress of this case

Local news coverage

– Raajje (23 Feb)
– Dhauru (22 Feb)
– Mihaaru (22 Feb)

Press Event

• Following the High Court Registrar’s decision to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in the Maldives, a request to review the Registrar’s decision was submitted to the High Court today. Section 51 of the Judicature Act (Law No. 22/2010) provides a review of the Registrar’s decision in such instances.

• In addition, at a press event held in Male’ today, details of the case experience were shared with attendees. The event was attended by journalists and civil society stakeholders.

Gulper Shark Fishery Case Summary-21 Dec 2025[Eng]

Decision of the High Court Registrar

• Decision of the High Court Registrar to reject the petition against Gulper Shark Fishery in Maldives
Decision of the Registrar,
Number 95-CR/INDIV/2025/407 (PDF) (Dhivehi)

Media coverage of the news
• Mihaaru
• Sun Online

Local News Coverage

• Mihaaru , Sun Online and Atoll Times newspapers publish articles about the submission of the petition.

Petition against Gulper Shark Fishery

• Petition against Gulper Shark Fishery submitted to the High Court of Maldives. This is a constitutional case.