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The Administrative Justice Act, 2006 (Bill No. 82)

A BILL

entitled

AN ACT to provide for Administrative Justice in Malta

BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. (1) The short title of this Act is the Administrative

Justice Act, 2006.
(2) This Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette appoint and different dates may be so appointed for different provisions and different purposes of this Act.
(3) A notice under subarticle (2) may make such transitional provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in connection with the provisions thereby brought into force.

PART I Preliminary Provisions

Short title and commencement.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

“administrative act” includes the issuing by the public administration of any order, licence, permit, warrant, authorisation, concession, decision or a refusal to any demand of a member of the public, but does not include any measure intended for internal organisation or administration within the said public administration;
“Administrative Review Tribunal” means the Administrative
Review Tribunal established by article 5(1);

Interpretation.

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“administrative tribunal” means an administrative tribunal listed in the First Schedule;
“the Minister” means the Minister responsible for justice; “principles of good administrative behaviour” means the
principles of good administrative behaviour listed in Part II of this
Act;
“public administration” means the Government of Malta, including its Ministries and departments, local authorities and any body corporate established by law;
“the Secretary” means the Secretary of the Administrative
Review Tribunal.

PART II Administrative Tribunals

General provision applicable to administrative tribunals.

3. (1) In their relations with the public, administrative tribunals shall respect and apply the principles of good administrative behaviour laid down in this Part of this Act.

(2) The principles of good administrative behaviour include the following:-
(a) an administrative tribunal shall respect the parties’ right to a fair hearing, including the principles of natural justice, namely:
(i) nemo judex in causa sua, and
(ii) audi et alteram partem;
(b) the time within which an administrative tribunal shall take its decision shall be reasonable in the light of the circumstances of each case;
(c) an administrative tribunal shall ensure that there shall be procedural equality between the parties to the proceedings. Each party shall be given an opportunity to present its case, whether in writing or orally or both, without being placed at a disadvantage;
(d) an administrative tribunal shall ensure that the public administration makes available the documents and information relevant to the case and that the other party or
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parties to the proceedings have access to these documents and information;
(e) proceedings before an administrative tribunal shall be adversarial in nature. All evidence admitted by such a tribunal shall, in principle, be made available to the parties with a view to adversarial argument;
(f) an administrative tribunal shall be in a position to examine all of the factual and legal issues relevant to the case presented by the parties in terms of the applicable law;
(g) save as otherwise provided by law, the proceedings before an administrative tribunal shall be conducted in public;
(h) reasons shall be given for the judgment. An administrative tribunal shall indicate, with sufficient clarity, the grounds on which it bases its decisions. Although it shall not be necessary for a tribunal to deal with every point raised in argument, a submission that would, if accepted, be decisive for the outcome of the case, shall require a specific and express response.

4. The Minister may make regulations to implement and to give better effect to the provisions of this Part of this Act and may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing:

(a) establish the date of entry into force of the provisions of this Part with regard to any administrative tribunals referred to in the First Schedule that the Minister may by regulations specify;
(b) make such amendments, alterations, deletions, repeals, corrections, changes and modifications to any primary law or subsidiary law for the purpose of bringing such primary law or subsidiary law in conformity with the provisions of this Part of this Act and may from time to time update the list of administrative tribunals listed in the First Schedule.

PART III

The Administrative Review Tribunal

Power of Minister to make regulations to implement provisions of this Part.

5. (1) There shall be set up in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act, an independent and impartial tribunal, to be known as the Administrative Review Tribunal, for the purpose of reviewing administrative acts referred to it in accordance with this Act or any other law, and for the purpose of exercising any

Administrative Review Tribunal.

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other jurisdiction conferred on the Administrative Review Tribunal by or under this or any other law, whether before or after the coming into force of this Act.

Principles which shall guide the Administrative Review

Tribunal.

Review of administrative acts.

Cap. 319.

(2) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to review administrative acts.

6. The Administrative Review Tribunal shall comply with the principles of good administrative behaviour laid down in article 3.

7. (1) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall be competent to review administrative acts of the public administration on points of law and points of fact. It shall also be competent to decide disputes referred to it unless any court or other administrative tribunal is already seized of such dispute.

(2) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall have no jurisdiction to review administrative acts of the public administration which allegedly contravene Chapter IV of the Constitution of Malta and the European Convention Act or such other human rights and fundamental freedoms provisions which may from time to time replace or supplement the above laws as the Minister may by regulations prescribe.
(3) Saving as is otherwise provided by law, in so far as points of law are concerned, the Administrative Review Tribunal may enquire into the validity of any administrative act of the public administration, or declare such decision null, invalid or without effect only in the following cases:
(a) where the administrative act is in violation of the
Constitution, other than the provisions of Chapter IV thereof;
(b) when the administrative act is ultra vires on any of the following grounds:
(i) when such administrative act emanates from the public administration when it is not authorised to perform such act; or
(ii) when the public administration has failed to observe mandatory procedural requirements in performing the administrative act or in its prior deliberations thereon;
(iii) when the administrative act constitutes an abuse of power by the public administration in that it is done for improper purposes or on the basis of irrelevant
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considerations; or
(iv) when the administrative act is otherwise contrary to law.
(4) The provisions of this article shall not apply where the mode of contestation or of obtaining redress, with respect to any particular administrative act before any court of justice or any other administrative tribunal (other than the Administrative Review Tribunal) is provided for in any other law.

8. (1) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson who shall preside over the Tribunal.

(2) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may appoint more than one Chairperson to sit on the Administrative Review Tribunal, but only one Chairperson shall sit in any one case.
(3) A Chairperson shall be appointed for a term of four years and shall vacate his or her office at the expiration of the term of the said appointment.
(4) A Chairperson shall be a person who holds, or has held, the office of a judge or of a magistrate in Malta.
(5) During the tenure of office, a Chairperson may not be removed except in the same manner and on the same grounds as a magistrate may be removed.
(6) In the exercise of his or her function, a Chairperson shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.
(7) Upon his or her appointment, a Chairperson shall take an oath to examine and decide the cases brought before him or her with impartiality, fairness and according to law. The oath shall be taken before the Court of Appeal.
(8) The warrants or orders of the Administrative Review
Tribunal shall be signed by the Chairperson.
(9) The oath to the witnesses shall be administered by the Chairperson or by the Secretary of the Administrative Review Tribunal or such other person as the Chairperson may by order in writing appoint.

Constitution of the Administrative Review Tribunal.

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Sections of the Administrative Review Tribunal.

(10) A Chairperson shall receive such remuneration as the President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may by order to be published in the Gazette from time to time prescribe. Such remuneration may not be altered to the disadvantage of a Chairperson during his or her period of office.

9. (1) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may by order establish sections of the Administrative Review Tribunal and may designate the categories of cases to be assigned to each section; and may by subsequent order amend, revoke or substitute such order.

(2) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, shall assign a Chairperson or such Chairpersons to sit in the Administrative Review Tribunal or in a section or such number of sections of the Administrative Review Tribunal and may transfer a Chairperson from one section of the Administrative Review Tribunal to another.

Cap. 12. (3) The provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure regarding the abstention and challenge of magistrates shall apply to the abstention and challenge of a Chairperson.

Panels of assistants.

(4) When a Chairperson has been objected to or has abstained from sitting, or is otherwise unable to act, another Chairperson shall be surrogated in his or her stead by the President.

10. (1) In proceedings before it, the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be assisted by two assistants, appointed under this article, whom the Administrative Review Tribunal may consult in any case for its decision.

(2) Such consultation shall take place in open court or in camera and the Administrative Review Tribunal shall not be bound to abide by the opinion of the assistants.
(3) The two assistants shall be appointed by the President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister from amongst persons who, in the Prime Minister’s opinion, have previous experience and special qualifications in a particular field of expertise falling within the competence of the Administrative Review Tribunal.
(4) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may appoint panels of assistants depending on the subject matter of the dispute and the Secretary shall select two assistants from each panel for each case.
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(5) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister may, from time to time, add to or vary such order to include, remove, fuse together or change existing panels as the case may be.
(6) The President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time, appoint more than two persons on each panel as assistants of the Administrative Review Tribunal, but only two such persons from each panel shall assist the said Tribunal in any one case.
(7) The office of an assistant of the Administrative Review
Tribunal shall become vacant:
(a) at the expiration of four years from the date of appointment; or
(b) following removal from office in the same manner and on the same grounds as a magistrate may be removed from office; or
(c) following a written request addressed to the Prime
Minister to that effect by such assistant.
(8) The assistants of the Administrative Review Tribunal may abstain or be challenged in the same manner and on the same grounds as, according to law, a magistrate may abstain or be challenged. Any question regarding any cause of abstention or challenge shall be decided by the Chairperson.
(9) In the exercise of his or her function, an assistant of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority other than the Chairperson of the Administrative Review Tribunal.
(10) Upon appointment, an assistant of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall take an oath of office. The oath shall be taken before the Chairperson.
(11) An assistant of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall receive such remuneration as the President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may by order to be published in the Gazette from time to time prescribe. Such remuneration may not be altered to the disadvantage of an assistant during his or her period of office.

11. (1) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall hold sittings in Malta and in Gozo at such regular intervals as may be necessary to expedite its business. The day and time of each sitting

Sittings of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

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shall be determined by the Chairperson.
(2) The Minister shall, by notice in the Gazette, determine the buildings where the Administrative Review Tribunal shall sit in Malta and in Gozo.

Registry of the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Duties of

Secretary.

Cap. 12.

Appearance before the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Procedure before the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Cap. 12.

(3) Unless otherwise exempted by the Chairperson, assistants of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall attend for all sittings of the said Tribunal.

12. (1) The Minister may by regulations establish the Registry of the Administrative Review Tribunal and the functions thereof, and by the same regulations may also appoint such officers as may be necessary for the operation of the said Tribunal. All the records of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be filed in the Registry referred to in this subarticle.

(2) The records of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be accessible to all persons, and copies thereof shall be given on payment of the prescribed fee to any person on request.
(3) The records of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be deposited and kept in such archives as may be designated by the Minister by regulations made under this article.

13. (1) The Secretary to the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be responsible for the running of the Registry. The Secretary shall also perform any other duty which may be incumbent upon him or her under this Act or any rules made thereunder.

(2) The duties of the Secretary shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.

14. (1) The parties may appear before the Administrative Review Tribunal in person or be represented through an advocate, a legal procurator or another person.

(2) The parties may be assisted by an advocate, a legal procurator or by another person.

15. (1) The provisions of articles 21, 22 and 23 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure shall apply before the Administrative Review Tribunal.

(2) Proceedings before the Administrative Review Tribunal shall be commenced by the filing of an application. The applicant shall file an application in the Registry of the Administrative Review Tribunal. The said application shall contain:
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(a) a clear and correct statement of the subject-matter and the cause of the claim;
(b) the claim or claims;
(c) a clear and detailed statement of the facts of the case of which the applicant may be aware;
(d) the name of witnesses the applicant intends to produce, including the subpoena of the other party, stating in respect of them the proof the applicant intends to establish by their evidence; and
(e) the remedy being requested, with costs against the public administration.
(3) The application shall be served on the public administration not later than five working days from its date of filing.
(4) The public administration shall file the reply within twenty days from the date of service of the application, unless it intends to admit the claim.
(5) When the public administration intends to admit the claim, wholly and unconditionally, it shall file a note to that effect. Once the applicant declares, by means of a note filed within twenty days from service of the public administration’s admission of claim, that he is satisfied with the remedy granted by the public administration, the Tribunal shall abstain from taking further cognizance of the case.
(6) If the applicant is not satisfied with the remedy granted by

the respondent, whether in

full or in part, or

if the public

administration intends to

contest the claim

wholly and

unconditionally, the public

administration shall

file a reply

containing:

(a) any such pleas as would be taken to be waived if not raised before the contestation of the suit;
(b) a clear and correct statement of the pleas on the merits of the claim or claims and referring to the provisions of the law in terms of which the decision was taken;
(c) a clear and detailed statement of facts of the case of which the public administration is aware, denying, admitting or explaining the circumstances of fact set out in the applicant’s application;
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(d) the name of the witnesses which the applicant intends to produce, including the subpoena of the other party, stating in respect of each of them the proof he/she intends to establish by their evidence;
(e) a request that the public administration be non- suited with costs against the applicant.
(7) Where the claim is contested, the Tribunal shall appoint the case for hearing.

Minister to make regulations to implement provisions of this Part.

(8) The Tribunal shall, subject to the provisions of this Act or any other applicable law regulating the Tribunal’s procedure, regulate its own procedure.

16. (1) The Minister may make regulations to implement and to give better effect to the provisions of this Part of this Act and may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, establish the date of entry into force of the provisions of this Part of this Act with regard to the public administration and administrative tribunals that the Minister may by regulations specify.

(2) The Minister may also make regulations for the better functioning of the Administrative Review Tribunal and may, without prejudice to the generality hereof, make regulations:
(a) setting out the procedure before the Administrative
Review Tribunal;
(b) setting out the procedure in appeals from the decisions of the Administrative Review Tribunal;
(c) establishing the forms that are to be used in proceedings before the Administrative Review Tribunal;
(d) establishing the forms that are to be used in proceedings in appeals from the Administrative Review Tribunal;
(e) establishing rates of costs in proceedings before the
Administrative Review Tribunal;
(f) establishing the fees that may be due to the Registry of the Administrative Review Tribunal;
(g) establishing the fees that may be due to advocates, legal procurators and other persons representing or appearing before the Administrative Review Tribunal;
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(h) setting out the duties of Secretary in relation to the
Administrative Review Tribunal;
(i) establishing which provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, if any, not mentioned in this Act, are to apply to the procedure before the Administrative Review Tribunal;
(j) prescribing anything that may or is to be prescribed in accordance with this Part of this Act.

17. The service of judicial acts in terms of this Part of this Act shall be carried out in such manner as is provided for the service of judicial acts in the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, unless the Minister shall, by regulations made under this article, otherwise provide.

18. The provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure relating to the benefit of legal aid shall apply to parties to proceedings before the Administrative Review Tribunal, being persons entitled to such benefit within the meaning of those provisions.

19. The expenses in connection with the administration of the Administrative Review Tribunal and the remuneration due to the Chairperson and the assistants of the panel, shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund without the necessity of any further appropriation.

20. (1) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall have all such powers as are, by the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, vested in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

(2) The enforcement of the decisions of the Administrative Review Tribunal in the manner provided for in the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, shall vest in the Administrative Review Tribunal itself.
(3) The Administrative Review Tribunal may, through its Chairperson, summon any person to appear before it and give evidence and produce documents, and the Chairperson shall have the power to administer the oath.

21. The Minister may make regulations to implement and to give better effect to the provisions of this Part of this Act and may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing make such amendments, alterations, deletions, repeals, corrections, changes and modifications to any law or regulation for the purpose of bringing such law or regulation in conformity with the provisions of this Part

Cap. 12.

Service of judicial acts. Cap. 12.

Benefit of legal aid.

Cap. 12.

Administrative expenses of the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Powers of the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Cap. 12

Cap. 12.

Minister to make regulations to implement provisions of this Part of this Act.

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of this Act.

PART IV

Appeals from decisions of the Administrative Review Tribunal

Right of appeal. 22. (1) Any party to the proceedings before the Administrative Review Tribunal who feels aggrieved by a decision of the said Tribunal, may, on a question of law only, appeal to the Court of Appeal sitting either in its superior or in its inferior jurisdiction.

(2) The Court of Appeal competent to hear and determine an appeal from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal shall be that established in the Second Schedule:
Provided that the Minister may make regulations to implement and to give better effect to these provisions of this Part of this Act and may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, make such amendments, alterations, deletions, repeals, corrections, changes and modifications to the Second Schedule and to any primary law or subsidiary law for the purpose of bringing such Schedule or primary or subsidiary law in conformity with the provisions of this Part of this Act and may from time to time add any other reference to legislation to the Second Schedule which is not mentioned in the said Second Schedule.
(3) Such appeal shall be brought before the Court of Appeal by means of an application filed in the Registry of that court within twenty days from the day on which the decision of the court was delivered.
(4) The said application of appeal shall be accompanied together with the payment of an all inclusive Registry appeal fee as may be prescribed by the Minister responsible for justice in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance. Such fee shall cover all Registry fees, including those taxed by the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals, when final judgement is read out in open court.

Cap. 12.

(5) When there are two parties, the appeal shall be lodged in duplicate by means of an application. Where there are more than two parties to an appeal before the Administrative Review Tribunal, the application of appeal shall be lodged in such number of copies as there are parties to that appeal.
(6) The application of appeal shall be filed in the competent
Registry in terms of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.
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(7) The Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals, shall, on receipt of the application of appeal, serve a copy of the said application of appeal on the other party or parties.
(8) The respondent or respondents shall file their reply to the appeal within twenty days of service of the appeal. Such replies shall be accompanied together with the payment of an all inclusive Registry fee as may be prescribed by the Minister responsible for justice in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance. Such fee shall cover all Registry fees, including those taxed by the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals, when final judgement is read out in open court.
(9) When an appeal is lodged to the Court of Appeal as aforesaid, that appeal and the reply or replies thereto shall be referred by the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals, to the Court of Appeal.

23. (1) The Court of Appeal shall have the power, in its judgement, to confirm, revoke or alter the decision appealed against and to give such directions as it may deem appropriate.

(2) The provisions regulating the Court of Appeal in the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure shall apply to the Court of Appeal when hearing appeals from decisions of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
(3) Subject to the foregoing provisions and of any applicable law, the Court of Appeal shall regulate its own procedure.

PART V Miscellaneous Provisions

Powers of the Court of Appeal.

Cap. 12.

24. (1) On the entry into force of Parts III and IV of this Act, all pending proceedings before those persons, bodies or administrative tribunals which were competent prior to the coming into force of article 25 shall be assigned to the Administrative Review Tribunal for determination and shall be regulated by the provisions of the said Parts III and IV of this Act; and the Minister may establish different dates for the entry into force of Parts III and IV of this Act with regard to the different persons, bodies or administrative tribunals referred to in article 25.

(2) Nothing in subarticle (1) shall invalidate any procedure whether written or oral which may have been made before the coming into force of this Act and which was valid according to the law in force on the date when made.

Saving and transitory provision. Cap.

12.

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(3) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall draw up and deliver such decrees which might be necessary to regulate those undecided proceedings which hitherto were pending before the persons, bodies and administrative tribunals mentioned in subarticle (1) prior to the date of entry into force of this article and which have on the date of the entry into force of this article been assigned to the Administrative Review Tribunal so that the latter may bring these proceedings in line with the provisions of Part III of this Act:
Provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of this article, proceedings pending before the persons, bodies and administrative tribunals mentioned in subarticle (1) which have been put off for judgment or for final oral or written submissions on the date of the entry into force of this article, shall continue to be heard and decided by those persons, bodies and administrative tribunals and not by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Cap. 12. Amendment of

laws in the

Third Schedule.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subarticle (1), one or more of the Chairpersons ordinarily sitting in the Administrative Review Tribunal or in a section or sections thereof, shall take cognizance of all proceedings pending before the persons, bodies or administrative tribunals mentioned in that subarticle which are re- assigned to the Administrative Review Tribunal. The Secretary of the Administrative Review Tribunal shall ensure that all pending proceedings lodged from decisions of the public administration hitherto being heard by any person, body or administrative tribunal mentioned in subarticle (1) are referred to the section of the Administrative Review Tribunal which would be taking cognizance of the said proceedings.
(5) Appeals lodged to the Court of Appeal from any decision of any person, body or administrative tribunal prior to the entry into force of article 25 shall continue to be heard by the said Court until they are so determined, and the provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure shall continue to apply thereto.

25. (1) This provision shall have effect subject to the provisions of articles 1(2) and (3) and 24.

(2) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall, on the entry into force of this article, henceforth have jurisdiction in lieu of the persons, bodies and administrative tribunals mentioned in the laws listed in the Third Schedule prior to the entry into force of this article.
(3) The laws specified in the First Column of the Third Schedule shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in the Second Column thereof and the provisions of article 1(2) and (3) shall
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apply thereto.
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FIRST SCHEDULE [Article 4]

List of Administrative Tribunals Respecting the Principle of Good

Administrative Behaviour

Part A – Primary Legislation

Chapter

Name of Law Provision

Number

Name of Administrative

Tribunal

3 Marriage Legacies Act 3 Commission

45 Lepers Ordinance 2(8) Board

69 Reletting of Urban Property

(Regulation) Ordinance

16 Rent Regulation Board

81 Utilities & Services (Regulation of certain works) Act

4 Refers to the Communications Appeal Board established by the Malta Communications Authority Act

85 Agricultural Produce (Export) Ordinance

18 Board of Reference (set up under subsidiary legislation SL

85.01 regulation 27)

88 Land Acquisition Public purposes

Ordinance

23 Land Arbitration Board

94 Department of Health (Constitution) Ordinance

44 General Services Board

110 Developed Land Valuations

Ordinance

9 Board of Special Commissioners for Land Valuation

117 Supplies & Services Act 3(1) (e) Boards or Tribunals set up under subsidiary legislation to take

cognisance of offences

125 Housing Act 8(6) and

12(1)

Refers to Rent Regulation Board

164 Police Act 48 Police Board

171 Port Workers Ordinance 10 Ports Disputes Board

179 Enemy Properties Act 4 Board of Custodians

199 Agriculture Leases (Reletting) Act 5 Rural Leases Control Board

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Chapter

Name of Law Provision

Number

Name of Administrative

Tribunal

210 Disabled Persons Employment Act 13 Appeal to the ‘authority’ set up under subsidiary legislation.

214 Public Transport (Regulation of

Employment) Act

3 Public Transport Labour Board established by article 30 of the Malta Transport Authority Act

217 Immigration Act 25A Immigration Appeals Board

218 Civil Aviation (Air Operators

Certificate) Act

9 Aviations Safety Board

254 Post Office Act 28 Communications Appeals Board

262 Mental Health Act 38 Mental Health Review Tribunal

288 Building (Price Control) Act 9 Building Price Control Tribunal

291 Commissioners for Justice Act 3 Commissioners for Justice

308 Partition of Inheritances Act 4 Partition of Inheritances

Tribunal

318 Social Security Act 107 Umpire

325 Business Promotion Act 28 Appeals Board

327 Education Act 42 Scholastic Tribunal

330 Malta Financial Services Authority

Act

21 Financial Services Tribunal

332 Malta Transport Authority Act 30 Public Transport Labour Board

334 Malta Freeports Act 29(2) Appeals Board constituted under article 28 of the Business Promotion Act

337 Import Duties Act 9 Customs Valuations Appeals

Board

343 Employment & Training Services

Act

3 National Employment Authority

356 Development Planning Act 15 Planning Appeals Board

364 Duty on Documents & Transfers Act 57 Board of Special Commissioners for Duty on Documents & Transfers

370 Investment Services Act 19 Financial Services Tribunal

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Chapter

Name of Law Provision

Number

Name of Administrative

Tribunal

372 Income Tax Management Act 34 Board of Special Commissioners for income tax purposes

378 Consumer Affairs Act 16 Consumer Claims Tribunal

379 Competition Act 4 Commission for Fair Trading

380 Small Claims Tribunal Act 3 Small Claims Tribunal

383 Controlled Companies (Procedures for Liquidations) Act

7 Appeals Board

395 Customs and Excise Tax Act 47 Excise Tax Tribunal

399 Telecommunications Regulations

Act

16 Communications Appeals Board

406 Value Added Tax Act 43 Value Added Tax Appeals Board

409 Malta Travel & Tourism Services

Act

13 Tourism Appeals Board

420 Refugees Act 5 Refugees Appeals Board

423 Malta Resources Authority Act 32 Resources Appeals Board

424 Occupational Health & Safety

Authority Act

21 Occupational Health and Safety

Appeals Board

435 Environment Protection Act 16 Appeal to the Planning Appeals

Board est. under Cap. 356

436 Wine Act 4 Appeals Board

440 Data Protection Act 48 Data Protection Appeals

Tribunal

441 Trading Licences Act 8 Licensing Appeals Board

442 Cooperatives Board 3 Cooperatives Board

447 Producer Organisations Act 18 Producer Organisations Appeals

Board

451 Mutual Recognition of

Qualifications Act

7 Mutual Recognition of

Qualifications Appeals Board

452 Employment & Industrial Relations

Act

73 Industrial Tribunal

455 The Sports Act 47 Sports Appeals Board

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Chapter

Name of Law Provision

Number

Name of Administrative

Tribunal

458

Medicines Act

21

Appeal to the Medicines Review Board from findings of the Medicines Authority

473

Eco Contributions Act

26

Eco Contributions Appeals

Board

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Part B – Subsidiary Legislation

Subsidiary Legislation/Legal Notice Number

Name of Subsidiary Law

Provision

Number

Name of Administrative Tribunal

GN 430 of 28

September 1937

Cinema and Stage Regulations 42 Board of Film and

Stage Censors

SL 33.04 Civil Explosives Regulations Second Schedule, paragraph 5 of 1. Module

B

This regulation states that provision must be made for an appeal

SL 85.01 Potato Export Regulations 27 Board of Reference

SL 128.02 Licences Procedures Regulations 6 Police Licences

Appeals Tribunal

SL 174.02 Public Service (Procurement) Regulations

15 Public Contracts

Appeals Board

SL 174.04 Public Contracts Regulations 33 Public Contracts

Appeals Board

SL 254.12 Postal Services Appeals Board

(Rules of Procedures) Regulations

--- Postal Services

Appeals Board

SL.260.03 Prison Regulations 79 Appeals Tribunal

SL 291.04 Petitions (Local Tribunals) Regulations

3 Petitions Board

SL 327.85 Assessment Test Regulations 6 University

Disciplinary Board

SL 332.09 Erection of Billboards on the

Road Regulations

9(7) Ad hoc Appeals Board until the Appeals

Board is constituted

SL 458.23 Licensing of Private Medical

Clinics Regulations

5(2) Tribunal

SL 458.25 Licensing of Private Medical Diagnostic Laboratories Regulations

5(2) Tribunal appointed under regulation 5(2) of the Licensing of Private Medical Clinics Regulations (SL 458.23)

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SECOND SCHEDULE Competence of the Court of Appeal

[Article 22 (2)]

Title of Law Reference

Number of the Law

Competence

of the Court of Appeal

Spirits Ordinance Cap 41 Inferior Competence

Lepers Ordinance Cap. 45 Inferior Competence

Agricultural Produce (Export) Ordinance

Cap. 85 Inferior Competence

Supplies and Services Act Cap. 117 Inferior Competence Enemy Property Act Cap. 179 Inferior Competence Wine Act Cap. 436 Inferior Competence Animal Welfare Act Cap. 439 Inferior Competence Co-operatives Societies Act Cap. 442 Inferior Competence

Civil Explosives Regulations SL 33.04 Inferior Competence

Importation of Dogs and Cats

Regulations

SL 36.42 Inferior Competence

Motor Vehicles (Carriage of

Goods By Road) Regulations

SL 65.19 Inferior Competence

National Malta Library

Regulations

SL 92.03 Inferior Competence

Malta Public Regulations SL 92.06 Inferior Competence

Control of the Sale of Egg

Regulations

SL 117.17 Inferior Competence

Control of the Kerosene

Regulations

SL 117.18 Inferior Competence

Airport (Groundhandling

Services Regulations

SL 232.15 Inferior Competence

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THIRD SCHEDULE [Article 25 (3)]

Amendment of Laws

First Column

Enactment

Second Column

Extent of Amendment

Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, Cap. 12.

1. Article 469A of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, Cap. 12, shall be substituted by the following:

469A. For the purposes of this article, and of any other provision of this and any other law, service with the government is a special relationship regulated by the legal provisions specifically applicable to it and the terms and conditions from time to time established by the Government, and no law or provision thereof relating to conditions of employment or to contracts of service or employment applies, or ever heretofore applied, to service with the government except to the extent that such law provides otherwise.

Spirits Ordinance, Cap. 41.

Article 6 of the Spirits Ordinance, Cap.

41, shall be substituted by the following: Refusal to issue licence.

6. (1) The Comptroller may refuse to grant the said licence to any person applying for it. But in case of refusal the Comptroller shall deliver to such person a statement in writing of the grounds of his refusal.

(2) Any person aggrieved by such refusal may, within fourteen days after receiving the said statement, appeal therefrom to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

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Lepers Ordinance (Cap. 45) Article 2(8) of the Lepers Ordinance, Cap. 45, shall be substituted by the following:

“(8) For the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section the decision whether a person is a leper shall rest with the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provisions of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

Agricultural Produce (Export) Ordinance, Cap. 85.

Article 18 of the Agricultural Produce (Export) Ordinance, Cap. 85, shall be substituted by the following:

Appeal from decision of inspector.

18. (1) If an inspector refuses to pass for export any consignment of produce, he shall forthwith give notice in writing to the exporter stating the reason for his refusal: the exporter may thereupon, in writing, require the inspector to refer the matter immediately to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal, for decision as soon as possible as to whether the produce should be passed for export.

(2) The exporter may be present at any examination of his produce by an inspector.

Supplies and Services Act, Cap. 117.

Article 3(e) of the Supplies and Services Act, Cap. 117, shall be substituted by the following: ‘(e) for empowering the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 for the purpose of taking cognizance of offences under all or any specified regulations made under this Act, for prescribing the procedure to be followed by the said Tribunal, for establishing the jurisdiction thereof; and for providing, where necessary, for applying the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act 2006 to appeals from the decisions of such Tribunal;

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Enemy Property Act, Cap. 179. Subarticles (3) and (4) of article 4 of the Enemy Property Act, Cap. 179, shall be substituted by the following:

(3) The decision of the Board shall be served on the claimant by a judicial act, and may be appealed by application before the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

(4) Where the Board or the Administrative Review Tribunal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, decide in favour of the claimant the Custodian shall be entitled to deliver the property to the claimant after deducting therefrom the fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in the administration of the property and its handing over.

Wine Act, Cap. 436. Article 4 of the Wine Act, Cap. 436, shall be substituted by the following:

Appeal to Appeals Board.

4. Where the issue or renewal of a licence has been refused, the Director shall inform the applicant forthwith of such refusal and the applicant may appeal therefrom to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

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Animal Welfare Act, Cap. 439.

20. Article 49 of the Animal Welfare Act, Cap. 439, shall be substituted by the following:

Revision of Director’s decisions.

49. (1) Where the Director refuses the issuing of a permit or of a licence required by or under this Act, or modifies such permit or licence or cancels the same, the person applying for the permit or licence or the person holding the permit or the licence, as the case may be, shall have the right, by not later than five working days, to appeal against the Director’s decision wherein that person shall state the reasons why the decision of the Director should be cancelled or modified.

(2) Such appeal shall lie to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

(3) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall, as soon as it receives the appeal in accordance with subarticle (1), send the said appeal to the Director so that, within two days, the Director may reply in writing thereto, wherein he shall indicate the reasons why the appeal should be quashed; however the Director may, where it appears to him that the appeal is justified, change his decision in accordance with the appeal and inform the Tribunal, within the period given to him for his reply.

(4) When the Tribunal receives the Director’s reply, or the time given for the reply shall have elapsed without the receipt, the Tribunal shall hear the appeal and in doing so it shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Tribunal and those members of the Council appointed under article 4(1)(c), (d) and (e) and one of the members appointed in terms of article 4(1)(f).

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(5) The Tribunal shall, within five days of the receipt of the appeal, study the case and hear any person whom it shall deem appropriate, including both parties.

(6) After the Tribunal decides the appeal it shall give an order in writing to the Director according to its decision; a copy of the Tribunal’s decision shall also be sent to the appellant.

Co-operative Societies Act, Cap. 442.

Article 17(v) of the Co-operative Societies Act, Cap., 442, shall be substituted by the following: “(v) such regulations may also prescribe any right of appeal from decisions of the Board to impose an administrative sanction to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act,

2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

Civil Explosives Regulations, SL 33.04.

The words “Provision must be made for an appeals procedure” in paragraph 5 of the Second Schedule of the Civil Explosives Regulations, SL 33.04, shall be substituted by the words “An appeal shall lie from the decision of the notified body to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

Importation of Dogs and Cats Regulations, SL 36.42.

Regulation 9(5) of the Importation of Dogs and Cats Regulations, SL 36.42, shall be substituted by the following:

(5) The Director reserves the right to increase the period of quarantine referred to in sub-regulations (1) and (2) of this regulation for any animal:

Provided that in such cases the importer may appeal from such decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

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Motor Vehicles (Carriage Of Goods By Road) Regulations,

SL 65.19.

The Motor Vehicles (Carriage Of Goods By Road) Regulations, SL 65.19, shall be amended as follows:-

(a) regulation 12(d) thereof substituted by the following:

“(d) In the event of serious infringements of these regulations, the Authority may suspend the authorisation. Such suspension shall be imposed having regard to the seriousness of the infringement and shall be subject to appeal the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”; and

(b) regulation 37 thereof shall be substituted by the following:

“Appeals.

37. Any decision by the Authority in accordance with regulation 36 shall be subject to appeal before the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 32 of the Administrative Justice Act,

2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

National Malta Library Regulations, SL 92.03.

Regulation 6 of the National Malta Library Regulations, shall be substituted by the following:

“Refusal to issue books by the

Librarian.

6. The Librarian may refuse to issue such books or manuscripts which he does not consider adapted to the age or the intelligence of the persons applying for them provided that the applicant may appeal against such refusal to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

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Malta Public Library Regulations, SL 92.06.

Regulation 39 of the Malta Public Library Regulations SL 92.06, shall be substituted by the following:

“Appeal.

39. Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Librarian made or taken under these Regulations, other than a decision under regulation 34, may appeal therefrom to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

Control of the Sale of Egg Regulations, SL 117.17.

Regulation 4(3) of the Control of the Sale of Egg Regulations, SL 117.17, shall be substituted by the following:

(3) Any person who feels himself aggrieved by any decision of the Director under this regulation may appeal therefrom to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

Control of the Kerosene Regulations, SL 117.18.

Regulation 5(3) of the Control of the Kerosene Regulations, SL 117.18, shall be substituted by the following:

(3) Any person who feels himself aggrieved by any decision of the Director under this regulation may appeal therefrom within fifteen days from the day on which the decision is communicated to him in writing to the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 32 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.”

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Ai rport (Gro undhandl ing Serv ices) Regulations,

SL 232.15.

The Airport (Groundhandling Services) Regulations, SL 232.15, shall be amended as follows:

(a) The definition of the expression “Board” in Regulation 2 shall be deleted and the following expression shall be added before the definition of the expression “airport”:

“Administrative Review Tribunal” means the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 29 of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006 and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal;”

(b) regulation 16 thereof shall be substituted by the following:

“Appeals.

16. (1) An appeal shall lie to the Administrative Review Tribunal against any decision or authorisation given under regulations 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13.

(2) The right to appeal shall be competent to any person aggrieved by the decision or authorisation.”.

(c) regulation 17 thereof shall be substituted by the following:

“Grounds of appeal.

17. (1) An appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal may be filed on any of the following grounds:

(a) that a material error as to the facts has been made;

error;

(b) that there was a material procedural

(c) that an error of law has been made;

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(d) that there was some material illegality, including unreasonableness or lack of proportionality.

(2) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall give reasons for its decision and shall cause such decisions to be made public omitting, if it deems it appropriate for reasons of commercial or security confidentiality, the names of the persons involved and any other information.

(3) In determining an appeal under this regulation the Administrative Review Tribunal may -

(a) dismiss the appeal; or

(b) annul the decision or authorisation, and where the said Tribunal annuls the decision or authorisation it may refer the matter to the managing body of the airport or the Director, as the case may be, with a direction to reconsider it and reach a decision or authorisation consistent with the findings of the Tribunal.

(4) The effect of a decision or authorisation to which an appeal relates shall not, except where the Tribunal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, so orders, be suspended in consequence of the bringing of the appeal.”.

(d) regulation 18 thereof the shall be substituted by the following:

“Powers and procedure of the

Administrative Review Tribunal

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18. (1) The Administrative Review Tribunal shall be competent to hear and decide any appeal made to it in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and, subject to regulation 19, the decisions of the Tribunal shall be final and binding.

(2) For the exercise of its functions, the Tribunal may summon any person to appear before it and give evidence and produce documents; and the Chairperson shall have the power to administer the oath.”

(e) regulation 19 thereof shall be substituted by the following:

“Appeal to the Court of Appeal.

19. (1) Any party to an appeal to the Tribunal who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Board may, on a question of law, appeal to the Court of Appeal in terms of the Administrative Justice Act, 2006.”


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