On 17 July 2022, the fourth amendment to the Judicature Act of Maldives [Law no. 22/2012] was ratified. 

The amendment stipulates that all High Court cases and hearings must be conducted normally in Malé, and that all judges appointed to the High Court must be based in Malé.

The amendment also outlines the provisions for dissolving the northern and southern High Court branches and transferring their functions and cases to the High Court in Malé.

Additionally, with the amendment all the resources and personnel of the northern and southern High Court branches are  transferred to the Department of Judicial Administration.

The Department of Judicial Administration is mandated to transfer the personnel to other judicatory bodies, while ensuring continuity of their employment.