3C.L.R. 1985 Mzreh 30 (TKIANTAFYLUDES, ΡI INTHEMATTEROFARTICLE 146OFTHECONSTITUTION ANDREASVORKASAND ANOTHER, Applicants, v.
- THEMUNICIPALCOMMITTEE OF PAPHOS,
- THECOUNCILOFMINISTERS, Respondents. (CaseNo. 389/81). 5 Legitimate interest — Building zones, challenged by means of this recourse, published on 7.8.81 — Order for the compulsory acquisition of the applicants' properties affected bythe zones — Whether applicantspossess legitimateinteresttoproceed withtherecourse—Question answered inthe affirmative,because the zones maybe found to affect the value ofthe properties and, CQnsequently, the amount of compensation for the compulsoryacquisition. Legitimateinterest— Courtmayraiseandexaminetheissueexproprio motu. J0 ThefactssufficientlyappearinthejudgmentoftheCourt.Therecoursewas dismissedon itsmeritsforthesamereasonsasthoseexpoundedinGalatiani Ltd.v. TheMunicipalityofpaphos
(1987)3CL.R. 2044. Recourse dismissed. No orderastocosts. Casesreferredto: 15 Constantinidou v. TheRepublic
(1974)3C.L.R. 416; UontiQuv.Th.eRepublic(\983)3C.L.R. 221, SwUanidesv. TheRepublic
(1083)3C.L.R. 678; GalatianiLtd v. TheMunicipalityofPaphos
(1987)3CUR.2044. 2017 Vorkasv.M'palC'ttee Paphos
(1987)Recourse. Recourse against the validity of building zones affecting applicants' properties at Paphos. G. Triantafyllides, forthe applicants. K. Chrysostomides, for respondent
- 5 CI.Antoniades, Senior Counsel oftheRepublic, for respondent
- Cur.adv.vult TRIANTAFYLLIDES P. read the following judgment. By this recourse the applicants are challenging, in effect, the validity of 10 buildingzonesaffecting their properties,whichwerepublishedin the official Gazette of the Republic on 7August
- Counselappearing forrespondent 2hasraised, bymeansofhis Opposition, the objection that the applicants do not possess a legitimateinterest, inthesenseofArticle146.2oftheConstitution, 15 entitlingthemtochallengethesaidzonesbecausetheiraffected by them properties at Paphos were in the meantime compulsorily acquired bythe Republic andthe relevant orderwaspublished in the Official Gazette of the Republic on21 August
- Against the compulsory acquisition of their properties the 20 applicants filed a recourse (No. 150/82), underArticle 146of the Constitution,which waseventuallywithdrawnand dismissedon 6 November
- As the possession by an applicant of legitimate interest is an essentialprerequisitetotheexercisebythisCourtofitsjurisdiction 25 underArticle 146oftheConstitution,anditisamatterthatmaybe examined by the Court even ex proprio motu (see, inter alia, Constantinidou v. The Republic,
(1974)3 C.L.R. 416, 418, Leontiou v. The Republic,
(1983)3 C.L.R. 221, 225 and Stylianides v. The Republic,
(1983)3 C.L.R. 672, 677), I shall 30 proceedtodealwiththisissuebeforeconsideringthemeritsofthis case: Iam of theviewthatthe restrictionson buildingentailedby the zonesinquestion maybefound tohaveaffected themarketvalue of the properties concerned and, consequently, also the amount 35 ofthecompensation payablebytheRepublictotheapplicants for thecompulsory acquisition ofsuchproperties,and, therefore, the 2018 3 C.L.R. Vorkasv.M'palC'ttee Paphos Triantefyllldes P. applicants do continue to possess a legitimate interest enabling them tochallenge the.subjudice buildingzonesbypursuing their present recourses, notwithstanding the fact that such properties haveinthe meantime been compulsorily acquired. 5 Asregardsthe meritsofthiscaseIwishtorefer tothejudgment just delivered today in the related cases Galatiani Ltd. v. The MunicipalityofPaphos (cases348/81) etc)*thecontents of which Ifully adopt for the purposes of the present case, too, and which must be treated as having been incorporated in this judgment 10 without having tobe repeated verbatim. In the light of the reasoning set out in the judgment in the Galatiani Ltd., case, the present recourse, also, fails and it is dismissed accordingly, butwith no order astoitscosts. Recourse dismissed. No orderasto costs. 15 'Reportedm
(1987)3C.L.R. 2044. 2019