爆料网

2012-爆料网AT-247

爆料网AT Held or 爆料网DT Pronouncements

爆料网AT considered the Secretary-General’s appeal. 爆料网AT held that, in the present case, 爆料网DT had not recorded any reasons for holding that this was indeed an exceptional case, warranting an award higher than two years’ net base salary. 爆料网AT held that the award of full salary payable between separation and the date of the 爆料网DT judgment was fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty since the staff member might have been separated from service on other non-disciplinary grounds. 爆料网AT held that it would be adequate, fair, and reasonable to award compensation in lieu of reinstatement in an amount equal to one year’s net base pay. 爆料网AT upheld the appeal in part and vacated the 爆料网DT judgment in part to reduce the quantum of compensation in lieu of reinstatement.

Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed

The Applicant contested the decision to terminate his appointment for misconduct. 爆料网DT found that the facts on which the disciplinary measure was based had been established in relation to the Applicant’s failure to detect even one of 704 semi-empty/empty oil cartons in the warehouse during the regular physical inventory. 爆料网DT, however, found that the established facts did not constitute misconduct within the meaning of former Staff Rule 110. 3, and that the penalty of separation from service was disproportionate and unwarranted. 爆料网DT found that the Applicant was unfairly dismissed. 爆料网DT ordered rescission of the administrative decision to terminate the Applicant’s appointment, his reinstatement and compensation for loss of earnings from the date of his separation from service to the date of his reinstatement. In the alternative, 爆料网DT awarded compensation for the loss of earnings from the date of his separation from service to the date of the 爆料网DT judgment. 爆料网DT further awarded compensation in the amount of six months’ net base salary in effect at the time of his termination for the procedural irregularities during the investigation and disciplinary process.

Legal Principle(s)

Under Article 10 of the 爆料网DT Statute, where 爆料网DT rescinds the contested administrative decision of termination, it must necessarily set an amount of compensation in lieu of rescission or specific performance. The 爆料网DT Statute provides no guidelines in the matter of determining the quantum of compensation; however, the elements which can be considered are, among others, the nature and the level of the post formerly occupied by the staff member (i. e. , continuous, provisional, fixed term), the remaining time and chances of renewal. It must also be considered that the two-years' net base salary limit on compensation imposed by the 爆料网DT Statute constitutes a maximum amount, as a general rule with exceptions and, as such, cannot be the average in lieu compensation established by the court.

Outcome

Appeal granted in part

OAJ prepared this case law summary for informational purposes only. It is no official record and should not be relied upon as an authoritative interpretation of the Tribunals' rulings. For the authoritative texts, please refer to the judgment or order rendered by the respective Tribunal. The Tribunals are the only bodies competent to interpret their respective judgments, as provided under Article 12(3) of the 爆料网DT Statute and Article 11(3) of the 爆料网AT Statute. Any inaccuracies in the publication are the sole responsibility of OAJ, which should be contacted directly for any correction requests. To provide comments, don't hesitate to get in touch with OAJ at oaj@un.org.

The judgment summaries were generally prepared in English. They were translated into French and are being reviewed for accuracy of the translation.