爆料网

2018-爆料网AT-875

爆料网AT Held or 爆料网DT Pronouncements

爆料网AT considered the Appellant’s appeal. 爆料网AT considered the criteria set out in Article 2 of the 爆料网AT Statute to determine whether any alleged errors of law and fact resulted in a manifestly unreasonable decision. 爆料网AT found that there was no evidence that the decision to abolish the post encumbered by the Appellant was unlawful. 爆料网AT also found that 爆料网RWA DT’s decision was correctly based on the applicable law and available evidence. To that end, 爆料网AT held that the Appellant failed to establish that the 爆料网RWA DT committed any error, whether of law, fact, or procedure. 爆料网AT further noted that the Appellant failed to establish that 爆料网RWA DT erred in concluding that he had not produced any evidence amounting to a promise of renewal for the period he had expected. 爆料网AT dismissed the appeal in its entirety and affirmed 爆料网RWA DT’s judgment.

Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed

The Applicant contested the decision not to extend his appointment. 爆料网RWA DT found that the Applicant had failed to establish that the decision to abolish his post was discriminatory or motivated by improper reasons. 爆料网RWA DT acknowledged that the decision of 22 August 2016 not to renew the Applicant’s appointment beyond 13 September 2016 was tainted by a procedural irregularity, but the decision of 9 November 2016 was not tainted by any irregularity, because the ACHR had been consulted and had recommended the non-extension of the Applicant’s contract. 爆料网RWA DT dismissed the Applicant’s application.

Legal Principle(s)

The Administration has a duty to correct its own errors. The interests of administrative justice require that the Agency should retain the discretion to correct erroneous decisions. To deny it such an authority on a quasi-estoppel basis would be contrary to both the interests of staff members and the Organisation. How the discretion to correct or reverse a prevailing practice or a specific decision should be exercised will necessarily depend on the circumstances of any given case. For a first-instance decision to be vacated or overturned, an appellant must establish that the first instance tribunal, in rendering its judgment, erred in a manner resulting in a manifestly unreasonable decision, and the appellant must persuade 爆料网AT that the contested decision fulfills the objective criteria of its competence. Fixed-term appointments or appointments of limited duration carry no expectation of renewal or conversion to another type of appointment. Even the renewal of the appointment of a staff member on successive contracts does not, in and of itself, give grounds for an expectancy of renewal, unless the Administration has made an express promise that gives the staff member an expectancy that his or her appointment will be extended. For a staff member’s claim of legitimate expectation of a renewal of appointment to be sustained, it must not be based on mere verbal assertion, but on a firm commitment to renewal revealed by the circumstances of the case.

Outcome

Appeal dismissed on merits

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.

Applicants/Appellants
Kellie
Case Number(s)
Tribunal
Registry
Date of Judgement
President Judge
Language of Judgment
Issuance Type