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{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 ACTION NO. HBJ}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 0014 OF 2001 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6704732 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 IN THE MATTER}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 of an application made by}{ \b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 HARBANS NARAYAN}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 , under RHC Order 53}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6704732 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Rule 3(2) for leave to apply for judicial review}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 of the decision of the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations dated 29 June 2000 provisionally promoting Vimlesh Maharaj as Principal Labour Officer}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid6704732 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 AND}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13517781 :}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 IN THE MATTER}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 of a decision of the Public Service Appeal Board dated 29 March 2001, dismissing the Applicant\rquote s appeal against the said provisional promotion \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 THE STATE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 V \par }\pard \ql 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\li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 VIMLESH MAHARAJ}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par Third Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 EX-PARTE:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 HARBANS NARAYAN}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par Applicant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par R. Singh for the Applicant \par S. Sharma for the First and Second Respondents \par J. Apted for the Third Respondent \par \par Dates of Hearing and}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11803286 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Submissions}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 - 12th June and 20th August 2001 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 Date of Ruling }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 - 14th February 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 RULIN}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 G}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par In my Judgment of 30th January 2002 in Action No. HBJ0001 of 2001 }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 State v. The Public Service Commission and Others - Ex-parte: Salote Senitoto Rabuka}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 I refused the Applicant Judicial Review of a decision of the Public Service Commission promoting another person instead of the Applicant Rabuka to the position of Chief Education Officer, Curriculum and Advisory Services in the Department of Education on the ground that I was not satisfied that in appointing another person to the position the Applicant Mrs. Rabuka had been denied natural j ustice. \par \par Now before me I have an application which is in many ways similar to that in my earlier decision, the difference being that here the Applicant seeks leave to apply for Judicial Review of a decision of the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations dated 29th June 2000 provisionally promoting the Third Respondent as Principal Labour Officer and the subsequent decision of the Public Service Appeal Board of the 29th of March 2001 dismissing the Applicant\rquote s appeal from the decision of the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations. \par \par The relevant facts are that the Applicant had joined the Government Service on the 12th of May 1970 and work in the office of Senior Labour Officer (Central/Eastern) and Head Office until the 11th of January 1981 and therea fter held various posts as a Labour Officer, Senior Labour Officer and Principal Labour Officer until the 31st of March 2000. \par \par The Third Respondent began as a Public Servant in 1972 as an Assistant Health Inspector. \par \par In May 1973 he was appointed a Labour Inspector Class II and worked in various offices in the Western, Northern and Central Eastern Divisions. \par \par On the 30th of April 1984 he was promoted as a Labour Officer at Headquarters and remained there until the 21st of May 1990 when he resigned from the Government Service.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 On the 5th of June 1990 he joined the Fiji Posts and Telecommunications Limited as an Assistant Manager Personal Administration but resigned from that Company on the 8th of July 1991 when he was re-appointed as a Labour Officer. \par \par In the Government Gazette of 15th February 2000 the position of Principal Labour Officer (Industrial Relations) was advertised and reads as follows: \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \'93}{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 MINISTRY OF LABOUR & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 123/2000 PRINCIPAL LABOUR OFFICER [INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS]}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par Responsible to the Deputy Secretary for the following duties, manage the Ministry\rquote s Industrial relations Services.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Provide quality advice to Unions and Employees on Industrial Relations matters.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Participate in the}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 formulation of policies and procedures relating to the Ministry\rquote s activities as part of the Corporate Management Group to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the service, consistent with objectives of the Ministry.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Prepare reports on specific issu es as and when required for the information of the Permanent Secretary and the Minister for briefing Cabinet and Prime Minister on the subject should the need arise.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 May also be required to perform the duties of Principal Labour Officer [Labour Administration] or PLO [International Affairs and Training] or any other position of equivalent level.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Qualifications}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 : An officer of high calibre.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Qualifications required for appointment as Senior Labour Officer and around 2-3 years service in that grade or equival ent or relevant degree or postgraduate qualifications and/or relevant skills and experience in this particular field in any other organisation.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Assessed ability to manage staff and resources.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Must have demonstrated intellectual capacity, drive, determination and flair in existing grade.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 An understanding of the problems of industrial relations is essential and proven to be meritorious performer. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid14371333 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Salary: }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 SS01, $29,408 - $37,137.\'94 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par The Applicant applied for the position but was unsuccessful.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 On the 29th of Ju ne 2000 Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations provisionally appointed the Third Respondent to the post.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The Applicant appealed to the Public Service Appeal Board against the decision of the Ministry of Labour and on the 29th of March 2001 the Board dismissed his appeal.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 He now applies to this Court for leave to judicially review the decision of the Public Service Commission.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The grounds on which he seeks leave are: \par \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls3\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 that the decision was contrary to Section 140(b) and (c) of the 1997 Constitution; \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls3\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 that back-dating the promotion of the Third Respondent from the 27th of October 1997, gazetted on the 3rd of April 1998 was a nullity; \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls3\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 that the Third Respondent did not meet the minimum qualifications requirement (MQR) and was not eligible to apply for the post of Principal Labour Officer; \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls3\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 that the Applicant has more merit in terms of experience and service than the Third Respondent and therefore should have been appointed to the post. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The First and Third Respondents have filed affidavits opposing the application and I have received written submissions from the parties. \par \par In an affidavit sworn on the 10th of April 2001 the Applicant alleges that by back-dating the promotion of the Third Respondent, first the Ministry of Labour and then the Public Service Appeal Board wrongly discriminated against the Applicant.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 He also alleges that he was discriminated against by the Department because it did not advertise the vacancy immediately it became vacant on the retirement of the previous holder of the position a Mr. Saukat Ali. \par \par The Applicant claims that the Third Respondent could not have been promoted because at the time the substantive post holder had still not retired, this being on the 6th of May 1998. \par \par Apart from these claims essentially I understand the Applicant\rquote s main complaint to be that because of his seniority he should have been promoted to the post. \par \par In answer to these allegations the Chairman of the Public Service Appeal Board Rigamoto Taito has sworn an affidavit in which he rebuts the allegations of the Applicant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 He says that the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations and the \par \par Applicant made submissions to the Public Service Appeal Board; the Applicant appeared in person and the Ministry through a Mr. Saverio Baleikanacea.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Mr. Taito states that the Applicant was given every opportunity by the Board to be heard in his appeal and he made both verbal and written submissions.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The Third Respondent, however was not present during the hearing of the appeal, and therefore was not heard. \par \par After the hearing the Board met on the 29th of March 2001 to consider its decision and after deliberating, it dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the Third Respondent had more merits in terms of ex perience, exposure to relevant functions, tertiary qualifications and better interview results. \par \par As to the Applicant\rquote s contentions that the Board should not have back-dated the promotion of the Third Respondent Mr. Taito says that the decision to back-date the promotion had been made in 1998 by the Public Service Commission.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The decision was not challenged by the Applicant or any other person in 1998. \par \par In addition the Public Service Appeal Board only came into existence in July 1999.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The decision to promote the Third Respondent in 1998, with effect from October 1997, was made at a time when the Board did not exist.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The Board considered that it did}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 not have any discretion to change or revoke the decision made in 1998 and therefore proceeded to consider the ap peal on the basis that the decision was made correctly and that the Third Respondent had been promoted to the position of Senior Labour Officer from October 1997.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Therefore, as far as the Board was concerned the Third Respondent was the substantive holder of the position of Senior Labour Officer (Industrial Relations) and had over two years service in that position as required by the minimum qualifications requirement for a Principal Labour Officer. \par \par The evidence before the Board from the Ministry which the Board accepted was that the Applicant had never worked in the Industrial Relations Division of the Ministry and that according to the Ministry the Applicant was seriously lacking in the aspects of} {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 industrial relations and had shown no initiative in develo ping interest, except when he was required at times to chair the Disputes Committee on an ad-hoc basis with direct guidance from the Industrial Relations Division.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The Ministry stated the Applicant lacked sufficient relevant experience and knowledge of ind ustrial relations necessary for the post of Principal Industrial Relations Officer (Industrial Relations). \par \par The Board recognised that the Applicant had served more years as a Senior Labour Officer than the Third Respondent but the Ministry was of the clear view that the Third Respondent had demonstrated himself to be far more acquainted with the area of industrial relations than the Applicant. \par \par In these circumstances the Board, like the Ministry, stated that the Third Respondent was better qualified for promotion than the Applicant. \par \par The Third Respondent swore an affidavit on the 19th of July 2001 in which he justifies the back-dating of his appointment under Section 40 of the Interpretation Act Cap. 7.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 That section reads as follows: \par \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \'93(1)\tab Where the substant ive holder of any public office constituted by or under any written law is on leave of absence pending relinguishment}{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 by him of such office, or has been instructed by the Government to take up a special duty or is otherwise absent, it shall be lawful for another person to be appointed, substantively to the same public office. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\insrsid9382577 (2)\tab }{\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 Where two or more persons are holding the same office by reason of an appointment made in acc ordance with subsection (1), then, for the purpose of all written law and in respect of every power conferred or duty imposed upon the holder of such office, the person last appointed to the office shall be deemed to be the holder thereof.\'94 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 \par In my judgment the Third Respondent is correct and the Ministry was entitled to rely on Section 40 in back-dating the Third Respondent\rquote s appointment.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 As has been said time and again it is not this Court\rquote s function to consider the relative merits of an applicant and other persons in applying for promotions.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The Court\rquote s duty is simply to judge whether the appointment in the light of all the evidence was fair or, as is frequently said, was procedurally fair.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 The only time at which this Court can interfere with a decision of an appointing body is when on a review of the evidence, the decision made was so manifestly unreasonable that the decision-maker, properly directing himself could not have reached it. \par \par In my judgment the Applicant has not made out such a case here.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 I therefore find no reason to interfere with the decision of the Public Service Appeal Board and therefore refuse the Applicant leave to apply for Judicial Review.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 There will be no order for costs. \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9382577 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 JOHN E. BYRNE \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2388008 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9382577\charrsid9382577 JUDG}{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid9382577 E}{ \b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5579432\charrsid2388008 \par }}