Speaker Rejects Motion to Disallow Compulsory SIM Card Re-registration

Labour Party MP Shakeel Mohamed’s motion to disallow certain clauses of Government Notice No 93, which mandates SIM card holders to undergo re-registration, has been rejected by Speaker of the National Assembly,  Sooroojdev Phokeer.

The motion sought to debate and vote on the requirement for mobile phone users to provide a portrait photo during re-registration.

The Speaker ruled out including the motion on the agenda, citing that the 30-day deadline for its submission had passed.

He referred to relevant legal provisions from the Interpretation and General Clauses Act (IGCA) and the Constitution in his decision.

Mohamed had argued that the clauses being challenged contradict the rationality of the Madhewoo vs. the State case concerning the collection of biometric data for national identity cards.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee had previously ruled in favour of the appellant, Dr Rajah Madhewoo, stating that storing personal data, including fingerprints, violates the right to privacy.

Source: Defi Media