AXIS e-service

AXIS e-service: P R E V I O U S A R T I C L E S

Government proposes land reform

A land reform bill that will pave the way for ownership, occupation and registration of individual flats in a building is tabled before Parliament.

The legislative proposal sponsored by the Government will also facilitate sale and transfer of land given by the Government for residential purposes. It will also help consolidate various rules relating to land use in the Maldives in one comprehensive statute of Parliament.

The outcome of the land bill is of particular interest to banks, lending agencies, insurance companies and others who have an interest in landed properties for lending and other related purposes.

HUSBAND-WIFE AGREEMENTS PERMISSIBLE NOW

Agreements between husbands and wives providing for the rules to govern their matrimonial relations are now held valid under local law.

The rule is considered as a milestone in the Maldives legal history that an Act of Parliament has specifically recognized and thus paved the way for the conclusion of such agreements.

Even earlier, it was possible to create agreements to share jointly in the property acquired during the marriage of two persons. But the Family Act (Law on Family Affairs) goes a step forward to allow agreements that could govern almost all aspects of married life that need to be honored by the spouses.

The idea is to encourage mutual respect and equality between partners and to provide a pre-agreed basis upon which the marital relationship may be built and sustained.

The Family Act has been in force since 1 July 2001.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Very few people know that Maldives has a consumer protection law in force. Even fewer have seen what that law says to people who sell goods or people who provide services.

Consumer Protection Act was introduced in April 1996 to provide for and protect the rights available to people who buy various goods, or receive various services.

The law speaks in detail about non discrimination among purchasers or service seekers; about fixing the prices of articles to goods, about making known the conditions applicable for any given service; things that cannot be done in advertising various goods or services; the right to return or ask for replacement of defective goods; and many more important matters relevant to a buy of goods or a seeker of services.

Every one of us is a consumer. Each one of us in bound to buy goods or ask for services almost every day. Therefore it is absolutely essential that we be aware of what rights we have; where they begin; where they end; and how far they can be stretched

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