Looking at the historical archives one cannot ascertain with certainty the date on which a court was first established in Ukulhas. However according to the historical records in the Maldives, the first established judicial institutions in inhabited Islands were known as the ‘Naibu ge’ or ‘Naibu office’ which operated as Judicial representative authorities. Thus, the date of 15 january1962, on which Judicial representative authorities were formed in Maldives can also be deemed as the date on which the Ukulhas Judicial representative authority was officially established.Subsequently,under the guardianship of Ministry of Justice, the Ukulhas Court was formed followed by the establishment of the ‘Island Court’ on 17th July 1979. When North Ari Atoll was administratively executed under the name of ‘Ari AtholhuUthurugofi, the first name given to the Ukulhas Court was ‘Ari AtholhuUthurgofee Ukulhahu Court’. At that time administratively Ari Atoll was notofficially separated in to two atolls. Later on, upon the official separation of Ari Atoll in to two Atolls, the name of the Court was renamed as ‘UkulhasCourt’.
Uponthe ratification of Act no. 22/2010 (Judicature Act) pursuant to the section no. 62 of the Act the name of the Court was set as 'Aa. Ukulhas Magistrate Court'. In the earlier days whenever, official communication was required to be made by writing and sending message through walkie talkie (hand held transceiver), a staff would go to the ‘Walkie Talkie house’ which was located at the ‘GunbaruBeach’. Also the Salaries of the staff were collected by travelling to Aa.Rasdhoo in a sailing boat and after the collection of salaries by the Island Administration at that time, the salaries would be distributed by the Island Administration to the Court employees and no records were kept of this. Looking at today every single transaction is well recorded and documents are kept, also modern equipment's are used daily for different works.
The building of ‘Ari Atholhu Uthuru gofee Ukulhahu Court’ had a Judicial chamber, an administrative chamber,a small sitting room and a one small bedroom. When the construction of ‘AriAtholhu Uthurugofee Ukulhahu Court’ started, the Court started to receive more facilities and modern equipment's such as a computer, a small device for a voice recorder, a printer, and office furniture.The new court institution, with modern facilities and equipment was founded under the management of Head of Ukulhas Magistrate Court, Al-usthaz Ahmed MuaviyathQasim on 20th January 2014 and the Court is being operated independtly from the Island Council.
The Ukulhas Court initially started its function at the ‘Madharusaage’ (old schoolhouse) with very limited facilities such as a table, two wooden vintage chairs(filaajehi Adharaadhagondi), two wooden benches (Dhigu dhegondi) which were made by using the wood of bread fruit tree. There were no doors at courts while it was being operated at the 'Madharusaage’. The court operated from 17th July1979 to 20th July 1986 within the same room as the island administration. The Ukulhas court started operating in a separate building when it was relocated on20th July 1986, this building had a separate cabin for Court.During the 90s, when the court was being operated as a separate institution under the name of ‘Ari Atholhu Uthurugofee Ukulhahu Court’.
Upon the ratification and implementation of the new Constitution of Maldives on 7thAugust 2008, the Judiciary became a fully independent power as per the principle of separation of powers. The Ministry of Justice was abolished and a different secretariat was established on 1st October 2008 to execute all administrative works related to judiciary under the name of ‘Department of Judicial Administration'. Further,upon the establishment of the Supreme Court of Maldives on 18th September 2008,the cusrody of the Ukulhas Court was reassigned to the Supreme Court ofMaldives. Since the Ukulhas Court is a magistrate court, the Jurisdiction ofthe Ukulhas Magistrate Courts is as provided in the Chapter 05 of theJudicature Act (Law no. 22/2010).
