clr/1988/1988_3_2595.pdf

(1)and12

(2)—Neitfier regulationisultraviresasbeingcontrarytoenablinglaworasbeingunreasonable. 5 10 EducationalOfficers—Transfers—Vestedright—TheInterpretationLaw,Cap. 1,Section10—Mattersoftransfershouldnotbeput intomouldsorchannelsofvestedrights. The facts of this case sufficiently appear from the Judgment of the Court. Recoursedismissed. Noorderastocosts. Casesreferredto: Stavrouv.TheRepublic

(1976)3CX.R.66; Economidesv. TheRepublic

(1972)3C.LA. 506. 2595

(1988)Christodoulou v. Republic Recourse. RecourseagainstthedecisionoftherespondenttotransferaplicantfromNicosiatoLarnaca. L. Papaphilippou,for theapplicant. R. Petridou (Mrs.), for therespondents. Cur. adv. vult. A.LOIZOUP.readthefollowingjudgment.Theapplicantin thisrecourseisaHeadmasterintheSecondaryEducation.Onthe 27th May, 1988,the respondent Educational ServiceCommission,(hereinafter tobereferred toastheCommission,decidedto *" transfer himfrom NicosiatoLarnaca.Asagainstthisdecisionhe madeanobjection whichwasdealtwithandrejectedonthe21st June 1988. After therejection ofhisobjection hechallengesthedecision relatingtohistransfer bymeansofthisrecourse. The subjudice decision wastaken for thepurposeof satisfyingjustified requestsofothereducationalofficers for transferor for thefilling ofvacantpostswhichresultedduetothemakingof transfers inaccordancewithRegulations9and 13

(4)oftheEducational Officers (Postings, Movements andTransfers) Regula- 20 tions 1987.His objection wasrejected on the ground that the units standing to his credit were less than the units of hiscolleagues who were liable toatransfer and whoserveinpostsof thechoiceof theapplicant andinwhosecasetheredonotapply theprerequisitesofRegulation 11

(1)fortransfer. 25 Inmakingthesubjudicetransfer theCommissionhadinmind thelists(AppendicesDand.E)whichwerepreparedonthebasis of Regulations 13

(3)of theaboveregulationsandofsection8of the Public Educational Service (Amendment) Law, 1987(Law No. 65 of 1987). The Commission acting in accordance with 30 2596 3C.L.R. Christodoulou v.Republic A.LoizouP. Regulation 13

(4)transferred such anumberofthoseincludedin Appendix "D",aswasnecessary inordertosatisfy therequests for trasfer of those included in Appendix "E", who had more unitsthanthem. . Therecoursewasfoundedonthefollowing groundsofLaw:

(1)TheEducational ServiceCommission basedthesubjudice decisiononcriteriaoftransfer prescribedinRegulation 12

(1)and

(2)oftheRegulationswhichisultraviresthePublicEducational ServiceLaws, 1969to1987.

(2)By thesubjudice decision^and/or with theapplication of theaboveRegulation 12

(1)and

(2)the'Educational ServiceCommissionviolatedavestedrightoftheapplicantwhichhehadacquired by virtue of the Educational Officers (Postings,MovementsandTransfers) Regulationsand/orinamannercontraryto theInterpretationLaw,Cap.1,section1.

(3)TheEducationalServiceCommissionbyapplyingRegulation 12

(2)deprived.itself oftheamenitytoexerciseitsdiscretion byreferenceto.tneactualfactsofthecaseandturneditselfintoa mathematicalcalculator",thusignoringthehumanelementandthe bestinterestsof theEducational Serviceandof theeducationalists.

(4)ThesaidRegulation 12

(2)anditsapplication leadstounreasonableresultswhicharedetrimental to*theEducational ServiceandtoEducationalOfficers,because, (a)Itcomesinconflict withRegulation 12

(1). (b)Itignoresand/orisinconsistentwithRegulation

1. (c)Thetestoftransfer ornot,ofaneducationalofficer isdecidedbymeansofamathematicalexercise.'' (d)It.grantstotheEducationalServiceCommissionlegislative
2. A.LoizouP. Christodoulou v.Republic

(1988)power in breach bothof theenabling enactment andthe principledelegatusnonpotestdelegare. (e)Itviolateseveryprincipleofgoodadministration.

(5)TheEducational ServiceCommision'in takingthesubjudice decison acted in a mannercontrary to Section 4

(2)of the 5 PublicEducational ServiceLaw 1969(LawNo. 10of 1969)becauseitpermittedorgansorpersonsnotentitledtobepresentto attenditsmeeting. 6.Thesubjudicedecisionwastakenunderamisconceptionof factbecausetheEducationalServiceCommission (a)Failedtoconsideranddecideontheobjectionoftheapplicantandonallthefactsandcircumstancesofthecase. (b)It relied on a mathematical exercise and not on thesubstanceofthecase. (c)Itignored thebestinterestoftheEducationalServiceand ** reliedonmathematicalevaluationofcriteriathatpre-existed theapplicant'sobjections. (e)It ignored the fact that the applicant had served in rural schoolsfor five yearspriortohistransfer toNicosia,and hethus acquired therightfor hisnontransfer outsidethis ^0 area. 7. The Educational Service Commission effected without causeanadversetransfer. 8.TheEducationalServiceCommissionmisinterpretedRegulations9,11 and 13

(4)oftheRegulations,anderroneouslyrelied 25 ontheseRegulations. I shallconsiderthe abovegroundsonebyone.InStavrou v. The Republic

(1976)3C.L.R.66,1madeareviewof thelegal 2598 10 3 C.L.R. 5 Christodoulou v. Republic A. LoizouP. principles governing the validity of subsidiary legislation and I neednotrepeat themhere. Suffice it tosay thatinmy opinion on thetruearidproperconstruction of theenabling enactment, same authorises the making of the said Regulation 12

(1). Therefore such a Regulation is not ultra vires the enabling enactment. e "Ground 1,must therefore fail. ' Regarding ground 2,1 must say thatthe Interpretation Law, Cap. 1,'doesnotapply in thiscase,as thereis novested right toa transfer or nori'transfer. Matters of transfer are primarily govlO erned by'the exigencies of the^Service, and if they are put in ι moulds,orchannels of vested rights such acourse will bedetri­ mental totheinterestof theEducationalService andatthattothe public interest. As it was held in Economides v. The Republic

(1972)3 C.L.R. 506, on matters of promotion the right topro' motion is nota vested right but a mere expectation and thusthe 1 5 requiredqualifications for aparticularpromotionpostmayvalidly »4. be changed before any promotion is-effected. This means- the Economidescasegoesonthesay -thathew laws,regulations and decisions affecting changes to those'existing at the time of ap­ pointment andregulating therelations of theState^and thecivil servants may be properly enactedor taken. By analogy changes affecting as in thiscase mattersof transfer canproperly be made ι arid no question of violation of Section' 10 of Cap.'l arises. Therefore ground 2,fails also:'' J f ; '" J ) - > ·' , " λ · 25 30 ?5 -' ''"* .Regarding ground 3,itmustbe said outrightthatthereis noth­ ing wrong orobjectionable tothecourseprovided by Regulation 12

(2),because such acourse is fully supported by the provisions of Section 39

(2)and

(4)of Law No. 10 of 1969. Inthe absence of a contention thatthoseprovisions runcontrarytothe Constitu­ tion,Icannotgo intothewisdom of thelegislation or theprovi­ sion that dictated those provisions. Suffice it to say that those provisions aiming attreatingequally all educationalists by refer­ ence to criteria which are applicable to all of them,Ground3, must therefore fail. Regarding ground 4, as I said above it does notlead tounrea2599 A.Loizou P. Christodoulou v.Republic

(1988)sonableresultsbutaimsattreatingequallyalleducational officers byreferencetocriteriawhichareapplicabletoallofthem.Sothis groundalsofails. Withregard to ground 5,affidavits werefiledbytheparties and the Chairman of the respondent Commission was cross- 5 examinedon thecontentsofhisaffidavit. Ittranspired from his affidavit andhisevidence,whichIaccept,thatatthemeetingin which the subjudicedecision wastaken nooneelseotherthan the members of the Commission waspresent.Further it transpired that atno stage did the Commission consult or take the JQ viewsofanyotherpersonorbody.Therefore ground5,mustfail too. Grounds6,7, and 8,canbetakentogether.TheCommission indeeddulyconsideredtheobjection oftheapplicantandallthe facts andcircumstancespertainingtotheapplicant.Alsothesub 15 judice decision was not an adverse transfer. On thecontrary it wastakeninamannerstrictlyinaccordancewiththePublicEducationalServiceLaws, 1969to 1987andtheRegulationsmade thereunderwhichwerenotmisinterpretedorwronglyapplied. Foralltheabovereasonstherecoursemustfail andishereby 20 dismissedwithnoorderastocosts. Recoursedismissed. Noorderastocosts. 2600