Simon v Police Service Commission [2002] VUSC 50; Civil Case 135 of 2002 (8 August 2002)

IN THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

(Civil Jurisdiction)

class="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> Civil Case 5 of 2002

p class="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> IN THE MATTER OF THE POLICE ACT 105]

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p class="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> AND IN THE MATTER OF THE POLICE CE COMMISSION DECISION AND AND RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE INSTRUMENT OF APPOINTMENT OF MAEL APISAI AS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Dated 19TH JULY 2002

BETWEspan>

HOLI SIMON

Applicant

ass="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> AND:

THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

First Respondent

AND:

lass="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> MAEL APISAI

Second Respondent

Applicant: Mr. Boar

class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> 1"> First Respondent: Mr. Nakou

Second Respondent: Mr. Toa

JUDGMENT

class="MsoNormal" style="tle="text-align: justify; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1">

A full written judgment will be delivered later.

The Court’s findings are as follows:-

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lass="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="text-indent: -35.45pt; margin-left: 70.9pt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> 1. nbsp; p;&nbbp; &nbp; &nbssp; &nbssp; I an>I have given leave to apply for the relief sought;

1">

2. &bsp; ;&nbssp;&nbp; &nsp; ;&nbpp; &nnsp;&&nsp; &nbp; I tind the proe procedure for recommending Mael Apisai as Comoner lice fecti thatpan>

(a) &nnsp;&&nsp;;&nspp;&nssp;&nsp; an>Tpe Police Service vice Commission did not interview Mael Apisai for the post.

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Reason: I consider it unreasonable when making an appointment as important as Commissioner of Police that the Police Service Commission did not interview him.

(b) nbsp; p; ; &nbbp; &nbp; &nbs;

Reason: All twelve applicants were were eventually considered by the Selection Panel. Four were interviewed and the applicant was recommended to the Commission, two other names were forwarded as being eligible. The second respondent was not required to follow this procedure.

The Police Service Commission did not have to accept any recommendatHowever, if another candidandidate was to be recommended to the President then the legitimate expectation of all other candidates, particularly those interviewed, and fairness required that the candidate recommended to the President should have followed the same procedure. That did not happen as the Commission did not require Mael Apisai to be interviewed.

ORDER

1. &nnsp;&&nsp;;&nspp;&nssp;&nsp;  p; s A Writ Writ of Certiorari will issue to remove into this Court and quash the recommendation of the Police Service Commission to His Excellency the President and the ntmenHis Eency the Pree Presidensident datt dated 19^th July 2002 of Mael Apisai as Commissioner of Police.

2. &bsp; ;&nbpp; &&nsp;; &nbp; &nbp; &&nbp;; A Writ Writ of Mandamus will issue directing the Police Service Commission to recommence from advertisement the procedure to select a person to recommend toExcel the dent as Commissioissioner oner of Polf Police. A recommendation must be made as quickly as reasonably possible.

3. &nsp; & &nbbsp; &nbp; &nbp; &nbbp;&nnbsp; A Writ of Mand Mandamus requiring the Police Service Commission to meet today 8^th August 2002 to consider the appointment of an Acting ssionndingreconsideration set ouet out in t in paragparagraph 2.

4. &bsp; &nbbp;&nnbsp; &nbbsp; &nbp; &nbp; /p> p clasoNorstylegin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> &nbsp

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NOTES

1. nbsp; p; ; &nbbp; &nbp; &nbs;  p; The Coue Court has decided matters of procedure. No judgment has been mad ashe mef Maesai, Simonny other candidate to be Com Commissimissioner.

2. &nbs;  p;&nssp;  p; &nbp; p; This judgment doe rendwful nlawfts coed si9^th July 2002. Everyoneryone muse must takt take thee the greatest care to act lawfully.>

3. &nnbsp; &nnbsp; &nbp; &nbp; &n p; No finding isng is made on the legality of ationsn sin^{up> July}

ass="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="text-indent: -35.45pt; margin-left: 70.9pt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> 4. &bsp; ; &nbbp;&nnbsp;&nsp; &nbp; &nbssp; &&nsp;;&nsp; Any baidiconditions which preclude any member of the Commission from attending meetings are waived for those purposes.

5.  p;&nssp;  p; &nbp; &nbp; ; p span>

(a) &nnbsp;;&nspp;&nsp; &nsp; &&nbp;; The Commissionssion may use a Selection Panel if they wi/span lass="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1">

(b) &bsp; &nbbp;&nnbsp; &nbbsp; Ifan>If a Panel is used the Commission must consider its recommendations, but does not have cept classNormayle="margin-top: 1; marg margin-boin-bottom:ttom: 1"> 1">

(c) &bsp; ;&nbpp; &&nsp;; &nbp; &nbp; Ananshort-listed caed candidate must be interviewed;

(d) & p;&nssp;&nsp; &nsp; ;&nbpp; / Apan>Any appointee ntee must have followed the same procedure as unsuccessful candidates and be interviewed.

6. nbsp; p; &nbp; &nbssp; &nbssp; If there here is any challenge to the recommendation of the Commission it must be done lawfully and through the Court. classNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottobottom: 1"m: 1"> >

lass="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> Dated at Port Vila, this 8^th of August, 2002.

R. J. COVENTRY

Judge.

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IN THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil Case No.135 02

IN THE MATTER OF THE POLICE ACT [CAP. 1span>

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE POLICE SERVICEISSION DECISION AND RECOMMECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE INSTRUMENT OF APPOINTMENT OF MAEL APISAI AS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Dated 19TH JULY 2002

lass="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> BETWEEN:

HOLI SIMON

Plaintiff

AND:

THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

Defendant

class="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> Applicant: Mrr

Respondent: Mr. Nakou

ORDER

lass="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="text-indent: -35.45pt; margin-left: 70.9pt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> 1. nbsp; p;&nbbp; &nbp; &nbssp; &nbssp; Lean>Leave is granted to apply for Writs of Certiorari and Mandamus.

1"> <

2. &nsp; &&nbp;;&nbpp; &nnsp; &nbp; &nbbp;&nnbp;& Tpan>The applicant is to serve Mael Apisai with all documents in this . p clasoNorstylet-indent: -35.45pt; margin-lein-left: 70.9pt; margin-top: 1; margin-botn-bottom: tom: 1"> 1"> <

3. & &nnsp;&&nbp;;&nbp; &nbp; &nnbp;& The Coue Court is considering the issue of of Crari mus qng thommenn of Mael Apisai to be the Comm Commissioissioner ner of Poof Police lice on thon the following grounds:-

(a) &nbp; &nnbp;&&nbp;;&nbpp; &nsp; &nbsp The failure oure of the Public Service Commission to interview Mael Apisai;

p clasoNorstylet-ind-35.4margin-left: 106.35pt; mpt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1">

(b) &nnsp;&&nsp;;&nspp;&nssp;&nsp; The legitiexpe expectation of other candidates and fairness in tha thre inewed as Maisai ot red to w that procedurcedure. span>

4. &nnsp;&&nsp;;&nspp;&nssp;&nsp; th August 2002 at 8.00 am for any argument from Mael Apisai. The apnt murve acuments and this Order upon Mael Apisai immediately.

p class="MsoNoMsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> Dated at Port Vila, this 7^th

R. J. COVENspan>

Judge.