Govt decides against amending Gulhifalhu agreements in order to fast-track land handover

The Housing Ministry has decided to drop its plan to amend the land agreement for plots issued from Gulhifalhu under the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration’s ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, a plan that they had decided to pursue earlier citing conflict with law.

According to the original agreement, recipients were required to relinquish their claim to plots of state-owned land in the Male’ area that are smaller than 600 square feet. But under a new policy drafted by the Housing Ministry, recipients would have been required to relinquish their claim not just to land they own in Male’ area, but anywhere in the Maldives.

On Monday, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib said the amendment was required as the original agreement clashes with guideline for issuance of land defined under Article 11 of the Land Act.

The decision sparked concern from the thousands of people promised land from Gulhifalhu, with the Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Union threatening to take legal action over the amendment.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the Housing Ministry said they do not believe amending the Gulhufalhu agreements alone provides a holistic solution to the issue, and that they were consulting with the Attorney General’s office to find one.

In a post on X shortly after, Muthalib explained that the ministry has decided to keep the original agreement as it is and sign a new document regarding the change in plot number.

“This decision was made to ensure that the creation of new registrations and handover of land is carried out without any further delay,” he said.

މިނިސްޓްރީން ނިންމީ މިހާރު ސޮއިކޮށްފައިވާ އެއްބަސްވުން އެގޮތަށް ބާއްވާފައި ގޯތި ނަންބަރު ބަދަލުވިކަމުގެ ލިޔުމެއްގައި ދެފަރާތުން ސޮއިކުރުމަށެވެ. މިއީ އިތުރު ލަސްވުމެއް ނެތި އާ ރެޖިސްޓްރީތައް ހަދައި ގޯތިތައް ޙަވާލުކުރުމުގެ ކަންކަން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިއުމުގެ ގޮތުން ނިންމި ނިންމުމެކެވެ. https://t.co/w8LBOnEOqi

— Abdulla Muththalib (@muththo) July 9, 2025

The plan to draw new agreements had also drawn concern from former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi, who said that the law does not recognize a new policy on land issuance that contradicts the original agreement executed under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme before the plots are handed over.

Although the former administration had taken the draw among Gulhifalhu land recipients – the current administration initiated another draw after changing the land use plan, which changed to the location of their plots.

The government had begun issuing new land registers and agreements this week. However, the Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Union has been urging recipients against signing the amended agreement.