Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ

2014-Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT-466

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT Held or Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT Pronouncements

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT considered the appeals by the Secretary-General challenging Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT¡¯s determination that the decision not to investigate Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµSU election matters was receivable. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held by majority that the appeal was not receivable, based on jurisprudence that a party may not appeal against a judgment in which it has prevailed. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT noted that although Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT reviewed the merits of the decision despite the Secretary-General¡¯s argument that the decision was not receivable ratione materiae, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT found in favour of the Secretary-General. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held that, as there was no negative impact to the Secretary-General, there was no right to appeal even if the judgment contained errors of law or fact, including with respect to its jurisdiction or competence. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT dismissed both appeals as not receivable by majority, with Judge Chapman dissenting.

Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed

The Applicants contested the Secretary-General¡¯s refusal to conduct an investigation into the irregularities surrounding the June 2011 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Staff Union (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµSU) elections, in light of the failure of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµSU Arbitration Committee to adequately address the matter. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT found, inter alia, that the refusal to carry out the requested investigation was an administrative decision subject to review. Nonetheless, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT held that such a decision was lawful since neither the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµSU Statute nor the jurisprudence indicated that the Secretary-General was obligated to intervene in the conduct of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµSU elections.

Legal Principle(s)

A party may not appeal against a judgment in which it has prevailed. Where there is no negative impact, there is no right to appeal even if the judgment contained errors of law or fact, including with respect to its jurisdiction or competence.

Outcome

Appeal dismissed on receivability

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