Civil Court of the Maldives has declined to grant an interim injunction to delay the lease of Vaavu atoll Fohtheyo lagoon.
After Maldives government announced leasing Fohtheyo lagoon, the largest in the country, Vaavu atoll council intervened the decision. The council said that the state can only lease the lagoon in accordance with the council’s regulations.
Following this, the council sought an injunction through Civil Court to halt the leasing.
Civil Court on Sunday, August 6, ruled that according to the Maldives Civil Procedure Act, an injunction can be issued in the absence of the claimant under specific circumstances.
Court determined that Vaavu atoll council could not provide a compelling counter-argument and therefore the injunction against the Ministry of Tourism cannot be issued.
Although the state did not provide any official comments on the lagoon’s lease, it stressed that the property will not be undersold.