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567

WHELM

RECORD OFLICE

Reference-

C.O.882/12

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHI PHOTOGRAPH-NOI TO

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Article 52. Owing to some reasons, the Sultan is desirous of freeing himself of the burden of directing the affairs of the State for some time, or wishing to appoint some person or persons to act for him, or if on some reason it is found difficult to find a suitable person or persons to act for him and if the Council of Ministers is compelled to take charge of the High Office, they shall take their oaths adding the following words to the oath already prescribed for them :-

"That I swear to be faithful to the Throne."

Article 53. Every Sultan on being elevated to the Throne shall have his allow- ance and that of the other members of Royal family fixed with the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Conditions Necessary for the Deposition of a Ruler.

Article 54. (1) Complete absence of any of the qualities of a Ruler.

(2) If he is found guilty by the Shariat of any capital offence.

(3) Showing opposition to any of the rules of the Constitutional laws

and acting against any clauses of them.

Procedure for the Dethronement of a Ruler.

Article 55. If any cause or causes arise for the detlironement of a reigning Sultan, the Council of Ministers shall summon a special meeting as provided for in Article 26 for the election of a Ruler. If after deliberation the meeting decides by a two-thirds majority for the dethronement, then the Council of Ministers shall summon the army, the people of the four wards of Malé and the islanders then residing in Malé and its harbour and shall communicate to them the decision of the special meeting and when the people signify their approval of the decision arrived at by the special meeting, and the decision of the meeting had been sent to the Sultan in writing he shall then vacate the Throne.

THE THREE STATE COUNCILS,

(i) The Legislative Council.

Article 56. The Legislative Council shall consist of twenty-eight members of whom seven members of the Council shall be nominated by the Sultan, four members shall be elected by the voters of four wards of Malé, and seventeen members shall be elected by the People's Assembly.

Necessary Qualifications for the above Members.

(1) He must be a Muslim.

(2) He must be of Sunni sect.

(3) He must be twenty-five years' old.

(4) He must be a free man.

(5) He must be a Maldivian.

(6) He must be of sound mind.

(7) He must not be a person accused of an offence against Shariat law and

had not been found guilty.

(8) He must not be a person who has lost the confidence and respect of the

public.

(9) He must be a person of integrity.

(10) He must be able to read and write Maldivian and Arabic characters with

their vowels.

(11) He must have a good knowledge of arithmetic.

(12) He must not be a person found guilty of any offence against the State

and has not been pardoned of that offence.

(13) He must be acquainted with the affairs of his constituency

Article 57. The age of the Legislative Council shall be five years. Fresh election shall take place in every five years.

Article 58. The President of the Legislative Council shall be the Prime Minister, and the deputy president shall be elected by the Council.

(2) People's Assembly.

Article 59. The People's Assembly shall consist of forty-seven elected members. These forty-seven members shall be elected as follows:-

Large Atols should elect four members for each, two members for each of the smaller Atols and one member for Mulaku Island and four members elected by the four wards of Malé.

Article 60. The members of the Legislative Council shall be elected by the members of the People's Assembly. They shall be elected at Malé.

Article 61.

Members of the People's Assembly shall be elected once a year. Article 62. Members of the Legislative Council and the People's Assembly shall be elected in accordance with the rules already mentioned. The meetings of these Councils shall be held only at Malé.

Qualifications of Voters.

Article 63. Qualifications necessary for voters for the election of members of the two councils are:-

(1) He must be a Maldivian subject.

(2) He must be a male.

(3) He must not be less than twenty-five years.

(4) He must be able to read and write Arabic and Maldivian characters.

(5) He must be a resident of the place for twelve months prior to the date on

which the registration of voters' list begin to be written.

(6) He must not be a person serving a sentence against the State or religion. (7) He must not have been proved to be insane.

(3) The Council of Ministers.

Article 64. The Council of Ministers shall be responsible for upholding the dignity and rights of the State and carrying out all the affairs of the Kingdom.

Article 65. The Sultan shall appoint the Prime Minister in consultation with the Legislative Council, the election being made from among its members. Thereafter other Ministers shall be selected with the permission of the Sultan by the Prime Minister from among the members of the Legislative Council. These Ministers shall be ex-officio members of the Legislative Council.

Qualifications of Ministers.

(a) He must have the ability and knowledge of the working of different depart-

ments of which he is in charge.

(b) He must have the strength and health to carry out the work of different

departments under his charge in a satisfactory manner.

Article 66. All the orders issued from the Council of Ministers must bear the signature of the Prime Minister, as well as the signature of the Minister to whose department such orders relate.

proper

Article 67. Ministers shall be individually responsible for the tion of the Departments under his charge and will be answerable to the Legislative administra- Council for acts involving loss to Government.

Article 68. Council of Ministers will be held responsible for decrees issued under the seal of the Sultan, as such decrees are issued on the advice of the Ministers.

Article 69. If a Minister is questioned by the Legislative Council on any matter under his charge, he must fully explain the matter to the Council. Such questions and explanations must be put and answered in writing.

Article 70. If a Minister is unable to attend his office on some reason, he shall delegate his work to his chief assistant, but he is not authorized to send him to the Council to represent him.

Article 71. No Minister while holding office is permitted to buy any share of a trading concern, or send out to islands goods for trade in his name, or conduct business in a shop.

Article 72. If a vote of no confidence is passed by the Legislative Council or the People's Assembly in the Council of Ministers, it is incumbent on the Ministers to report the fact to the Sultan and place their resignations in his hands. The Sultan shall then proceed for the election of a new Council of Ministers, as provided for in Article 65. Until a new Council of Ministers is formed, the old Council shall carry on the Government.

Article 73. If a vote of no confidence is passed in any one of the Ministers, it is his duty to report the fact to the Sultan and resign his post. If necessity arise for immediate appointment of a Minister, the Prime Minister will select and appoint a member from among the members of the Legislative Council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Minister.

Article 74. The Legislative Council is empowered to inquire into the irregular acts of the Council of Ministers or of any individual Minister. Such irregular acts shall be regarded as proved, if passed by two-thirds of the members.