MLI Essay Writing Competition

The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Thursday, 30 December 2021 (the “Deadline”). All entries must be submitted on or before the Deadline via the submission portal given at the end of this announcement.

Candidates may choose a topic from the following list. Please note that submissions outside of these topics will not be accepted.

1. In light of the recent Supreme Court cases of Sunland Travel Pvt Ltd v Angeleen Mary Naziu (2017/SC-A/44), Abdullah Shazmeel v Crown Company Pvt Ltd (2013/SC-A/37) and Bank of Maldives Plc v Fathmath Maleeha Jamal (2017/SC-A/14), how would you reconcile the position of local law with respect to reinstatement as a remedy for unlawful termination. Please compare the position of law in the cases above, with what has been set in the further cases of Hussain Nazeef v Civil Service Commission (2019/SC-A/22) and Aminath Areej Hussain v Prosecutor General’s Office (2019/SC-A/35)?

2. What is the role and scope of a judicial watchdog (such as the Judicial Service Commission) in a modern democracy? What should be the ideal composition of such a watchdog?

3. What is the role and influence of foreign jurisprudence on the adjudication of contractual disputes and the development of contract law in the Maldives?

4. Critically analyse the protections and privileges granted to secured creditors in the Maldives. Identify and discuss any weakness of the regime which results in the failure of protections and privileges envisaged.

5. What should the courts, both in the forum of an arbitration and in the jurisdiction in which arbitral awards are being enforced, do to promote dispute resolution through arbitration?

6. Analyse Ahmed Ihsan v State (Ministry of Health) (2016/SC-A/05) and identify the reforms required to guarantee appropriate protections to medical patients in Maldives.

7. Can a procedural defect vitiate a judgement of a court in a criminal matter?

1. Participants wishing to submit an entry for the Open Category – Dhivehi Language, please choose any one of the questions above and submit your entry in Dhivehi language.

2. The maximum length of an English language entry must be between 2500 to 3000 words excluding any footnotes and bibliography. A Dhivehi language entry must not be less than 6 A4 pages and must not be more than 12 A4 size pages.

3. All entries must be original pieces of work. Entries should not have been previously submitted for any competition or previously used or submitted as part of an assignment or coursework or any other such submission.

4. All entries must formally acknowledge all sources including references and bibliographies in any one of the accepted styles such as OSCOLA or Harvard style referencing. You must not write your name or any identifying remark on the entry itself.

5. Entries must be submitted in MS Word format. For English language submissions, it must be typed in Arial font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing. For Dhivehi language submissions, it must be typed in Faruma font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing.

6. A cover page and a declaration in the format provided in the link below must accompany each entry.

Declaration of Authorship

7. Participants may only submit one entry answering one question from the choices above.

In evaluating entries, judges will look for the following criteria.

1. Accuracy and clarity of the legal position and principles.

2. Originality of idea and the clarity with which it is presented.

3. Degree of complexibility of the topic and arguments.

4. Merits of the arguments and relevance and context of authorities used.

5. Depth of demonstrated understanding of the issues and research skills and ability.

6. Use of language, clarity of arguments, and depth of analysis.

1. The winning entry in each category will win a cash prize of MVR 15,000.

2. Maldives Law Institute at its discretion may award additional prizes depending on the quality of submissions received.

3. Maldives Law Institute reserves the right to decline to award a/any prize in the event that the submissions fail to reach an appropriate standard.

4. Maldives Law Institute may publish all winning/selected articles in a special edition of Maldives Law Review.

All decisions of The Maldives Law Institute and/or its appointed judging panel will be final on all matters relating to the Competition.