Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT Held or Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT Pronouncements
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT preliminarily denied the request for an oral hearing. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT considered the appeal, specifically whether the Appellant had a legitimate expectation for the renewal of his fixed-term contract and rights related to the renewal of his fixed-term contract. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT noted that in the absence of any evidence of a firm commitment of renewal, there was no basis to support the Appellant¡¯s claim of legitimate expectation and/or right for the renewal of his contract. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT further held that it was clear from the evidence that the Administration was involved in the process of revising the activities in Iraq and realigning its functions. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT agreed with Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT¡¯s findings that the Appellant was adequately consulted on the Organisational restructuring before the contested decision was taken and that the contested decision was not ill-motivated or taken in bad faith. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT accordingly dismissed the appeal and upheld Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT¡¯s judgment.
Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed
The Applicant contested the decision not to renew his fixed-term contract. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT dismissed the application.
Legal Principle(s)
A fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service. In order 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.