The Federal Supreme Court has upheld a ruling to dissolve the Jurists Association’s administrative council and appoint a temporary one in its place.
The court also confirmed that general benefit associations should not indulge in political activities that are beyond their duties under federal law.
The case started when a plaintiff filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court against the Ministry of Social Affairs after its decision to dissolve the association’s administrative council on April 21 last year.
Two other people put their name to the lawsuit during the second hearing.
They added a request to cancel the decision issued by the minister on March 31, 2011, to form an investigating committee into reports by general benefit associations about the Jurists Association.
The three plaintiffs argued they were elected to be in the council and that the decision to appoint a temporary council in their place did not serve the public benefit.
Previously, the Jurist Association had launched an initiative called “Public Elections for a Wise Ummah”, which included calls to involve every citizen over the age of 21 in free elections for the Federal National Council.
They called on other associations to join their campaign.
The plaintiffs argued that initiative was merely to practise freedom of expression, a right guaranteed by the constitution, and it was a legal act, not a political one.
The ministry argued that the initiative to call for general elections was a political act and not part of the association’s purposes.
Previously, the Court of First Instance rejected the lawsuit, as did the Court of Appeal.
The case was sent to the Federal Supreme Court, which accepted it and bounced it back to the Appeal Court, where the plaintiffs’ case was rejected again.
It was again sent to the Supreme Court, which upheld the verdict.
hdajani@thenational.ae
