clr/1981/1981_3_241.pdf

(1)of the Co-operative Societies Law, Cap. 114{asamended by Law 28/59) and, also, when section 3

(1)is read in conjunction with sections 19 and 20 of the Interpretation Law, Cap. 1. Interpretation Law, Cap. 1—"Person " and "public authority " in section 19 of the Law—Meaning in conjunction with section 3

(1)of the Co-operative Societies Law, Cap. 114 (as amended by Law 28/59). Co-operative Societies—Registrar—Appointment of Acting Registrar—Validity—Whether affected because of form of publication in the official Gazette in the sense of section 3

(1)of the - Co-operative Societies. Law, Cap. 114. 15 20 The appellant has since March 1961 been holding the post of Registrar of the Greek Co-operative Societies upon his appointment to such post by a decision of the Council of Ministers under section 3

(1)of the Co-operative Societies Law, Cap. 114 (as amended by Law 28/59). By means of a decision of the Council of Ministers, communicated to him by a letter dated June 5, 1980, he was interdicted from acting as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies and, also, a certain 241 Azinas τ. Republic

(1981)Michael Erotokritos was appointed as Acting Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies. The trial Judge dismissed his recourse which was directed against the above decision and hence this appeal : Held,

(1)that though in section 3

(1)of Cap. 114there does 5 not exist any express provision enabling the termination or the suspension of an appointment of Registrar of GreekCo­ operative Societies madeunder it, as noprovision inthis respect is made by any other section of any Law applicable to this matter, section 3

(1)impliedly empowers the Council of Mini- 10 sters to interdict from theperformance of his duties a person such as the appellant, who was appointed by the Council as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies ; that, moreover, this Court is in agreement with the trial Judge that when the said section 3

(1)is read together with section 19*of the Inter- 15 pretation Law, Cap. 1, the inevitable conclusion is that the Council of Ministers was empowered to interdict theappellant from performing theduties of hispost as has been done in the present instance ; and that, further, the expressions "person" and " public authority " in section 19, above, should not be 20 given such a narrow meaning as would exclude action bythe Council of Ministers by applying section 3

(1)of Cap. 114, in conjunction with section 19 of Cap. 1; accordingly there is no merit in that part of the appeal relating to the interdiction which must be dismissed. 25

(2)That, regarding the acting appointment of Erotocritos as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies, it was possible in law for theCouncil of Ministers tomake suchappointment under section 3

(1)of Cap, 114 when it is read in conjunction with section 20** of Cap. I because the interdiction of the 30 appellant rendered him unable, in the sense of section 20 of Cap. 1, to perform thefunctions of theoffice of Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies ; accordingly the appeal relating to the interdiction must, also, fail. Held, with regardto appellant's contention that the appoint- 35 ment of Erotocritoswasinvalid because a relevant orderinthe * Quotedatp.244 post. ·* Quotedatp.245 post. 242 3 C.L.R. Azinas τ.Republic senseof section3

(1)of Cap. 114, has not been published in the officialGazette : 5 10 That as in the Fourth Supplement to the Official Gazette of June 13, 1980, there has been published, under No. 36, the decision of the Council of Ministers for the appointment of Erotocritos as Acting Registrar of Greek Co-operative Socie­ ties the publication of such decision is regarded as an order, in the sense of section 3

(1)of Cap. 114, enabling Erotocritos to perform all the duties of the Registrar specified in section 3

(2)of Cap. 114 ; accordingly this contention must fail. Appeal dismissed. Appeal. Appeal from the judgment of a Judge of the Supreme Court of Cyprus (Sawides, J.) given on the 23rd September, 1980 15 (Revisional Jurisdiction Case No. 174/80) whereby appellant's recourse against the decision of the respondent to interdict him from the post of Registrar of Co-Operative Societies and appoint Mr. M. Erotokritos as Deputy Registrar of Co-Operative Societies was dismissed. 20 L. Clerides with St. Charahmbous, for the appellant. V. Aristodemou, Senior Counsel of the Republic, for the respondent. Cur. adv. vult. TRIANTAFYLLIDES P. read thefollowingjudgment of the Court. The appellant appeals from the first instance judgment* of a Judge of this Court by means of which there was dismissed his recourse against the decision of the Council of Ministers (com­ municated to him by a letter dated June 5, 1980) to interdict him from acting as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies 30 and, also, against the decision of the Council of Ministers to appoint a certain Michael Erotokritos as Acting Registrar of Greek Co^-operative Societies. - _. 25 The appellant had been appointed to the post of Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies by a decision of the Council 35 of Ministers dated March 9, 1961, under section 3

(1)of the Co-operative Societies Law, Cap. 114, as amended by the Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Law, 1959 (Law 28/59). It is correct that in section 3

(1), above, there does not exist * See

(1980)3 C.L.R. 510. 243 Triantafyllides P. Azinas v. Republic anyexpressprovision enablingthetermination orthe suspension of an appointment of Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies made under it. We are, however, of the opinion that, as no provision in this respect is made by any other section of any Law applicable to this matter, section 3

(1)impliedly empowers the Council of Ministers to interdict from the performance ofhis duties a person suchas the appellant,whowas appointed by the Council as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies.

(1981)5 We agree, moreover, with the trial Judge that when the said section 3

(1)isread together withsection 19 oftheInterpretation 10 Law, Cap. 1, the inevitable conclusion is that the Council of Ministers was empowered to interdict the appellant from performing the duties of his post as has been done in the present instance. Section 19 reads as follows:15 "Where any Law confers upon any person or pubUcauthority power to make appointments to any office or place the power shall be construed as including the power to determine any such appointment and to suspend any person appointed, and to re-appoint or reinstate him, and to 20 appoint another person temporarily in the place of any person so suspended, and to appoint another person to fill any vacancy in the office or place arising from any other cause: Provided that where the power of the person or public 25 authority to makeany suchappointment isonly exercisable upon the recommendation or subject to the approval, consent or concurrence of some other person or authority the power of determination or suspension shall, unless the contrary intention appears, only be exercisable upon 30 the recommendation or subject to the approval, consent or concurrence of that other person or authority." We are not prepared to accept as correct the submission of counsel for the appellant that we should give the expressions "person" and "public authority" in section 19, above, such a 35 narrow meaning as would exclude action by the Council of Ministers by applying section 3

(1)of Cap. 114, in conjunction with section 19 of Cap. 1. Wefind,therefore, no merit in that part of this appeal which relates to the interdiction of the appellant. 244 40 3 C.L.R. Azinas v. Republic Triantafyllides P. Regarding, next, the acting appointment of Erotocritos as Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies, we take the view that it waspossible inlawfor the Council of Ministers to make such appointment under section 3

(1)of Cap. 114 when it is 5 readinconjunction withsection20ofCap. 1,which,asmodified byvirtueofArticle 188oftheConstitution,providesasfollows:- 10 15 20 "Wherethe Council of Ministers issatisfied that theholder of any public office isunable for any cause to perform the functions of that office, it shall be lawful for the Council of Ministers either to appoint another person to that office or to direct that the said functions shall be performed by a person named by it or by the person for the time being holdingor lawfully performing thefunctions of, someother public office; and all the functions of the first mentioned office shall accordingly vest (subject to any conditions, exceptions or qualifications which the Council of Ministers may prescribe) in such person until his appointment or the direction, as the case may be, is terminated by the Council of Ministers". The interdiction of the appellant rendered him unable, in the sense of section 20 of Cap. 1, to perform the functions of the office of Registrar of Greek Co-operative Societies. Lastly, wefindno merit in the submission that the appointment of Erotocritos to act as Registrar of Greek Co-operative 25 Societies is invalid because, as contended by counsel for the appellant, there was not published in the Official Gazette of theRepublica relevant orderin the senseofsection 3

(1)ofCap. 114. As a matter of fact in the Fourth Supplement to the Official Gazette of June 13, 1980, there has been published, 30 under No. 36, the decision of the Council of Ministers for the appointment of Erotocritos as Acting Registrar of Greek Cooperative Societies and we regard the publication of suchdecisionasanorder,inthesenseofsection 3

(1)ofCap. 114,enabling Erotocritos to perform all the duties of the Registrar which 35 are specified in section 3

(2)of Cap. 114. 40 Inthelight ofalltheforegoing reasonsthisappealisdismissed with no order as to its costs, since no costs have been claimed by counsel for the respondent. Appealdismissed. No order as to costs. 245