5.9
As regards the judicial remedy, the author contests the theory of flagrant irregularity put forward by
the State party. He states that this theory is applicable in French law only under exceptional circumstances, in
particular when the administration has taken a decision which manifestly cannot be related to a power conferred
upon it or when it has enforced a decision of its own volition although it manifestly did not have the authority
to do so, which is not the case in the present instance. Mr. Arkauz quotes rulings of the Court of Conflicts to
the effect that neither a deportation decision, even if illegal, nor a decision to enforce it may be termed flagrant
irregularities, and hence only the administrative courts have jurisdiction in such matters.
The Committee's decision on admissibility
6.1
At its twentieth session the Committee considered the question of the admissibility of the
communication. It ascertained that the same matter had not been, and was not being, examined under another
procedure of international investigation or settlement. Insofar as the exhaustion of domestic remedies is
concerned, the Committee noted that no decision regarding the application to the administrative court
requesting the suspension of the deportation measure which might have been taken against the author had been
reached when the measure was enforced. Furthermore, an appeal against the ministerial deportation order
issued in respect of the complainant on 13 January 1997 would not have been effective or even possible, since
it would not have had a suspensive effect and the deportation measure was enforced immediately following
notification thereof, leaving the person concerned no time to seek a remedy. The Committee therefore found
that article 22, paragraph 5 (b), did not preclude it from declaring the communication admissible.
6.2
Accordingly, the Committee decided on 19 May 1998 that the communication was admissible.
Observations by the State party on the Committee's decision declaring the communication admissible
7.1
In a reply dated 4 January 1999 the State party provides information concerning the question of the
exhaustion of domestic remedies. It maintains that the author's application to the Administrative Court of
Limoges cannot be considered to be relevant, since it does not concern the decision challenged before the
Committee. That application, filed on 16 December 1996 in the court registry, was directed not against the
deportation measure in dispute, which had not yet been taken, but against a deportation measure that "might"
have been taken. That wording alone was sufficient to render the application by Mr. Arkauz inadmissible, as
the practice of the administrative courts consistently requires complainants to challenge current and existing
decisions. Therefore, the fact that no ruling had been made on the application by 13 January 1997, when the
deportation order was issued, does not appear to be decisive in the present case. The judgement was reached
two days later, i.e. less than a month after registration of the application. The rendering of this court decision
was obviously not a matter of the greatest urgency, since it related not to a current but to a possible measure.
7.2
The author failed to enter an appeal against the ministerial order of 13 January 1997 calling for his
deportation from French territory and against the decision specifying Spain as the country of destination. An
application for a stay of execution under article L.10 of the Code of Administrative Courts and Administrative
Courts of Appeal, a possibility of which the complainant was clearly not unaware, was incontestably the
appropriate and available remedy. It was not, however, used. The State party therefore submits that the
Committee should declare the communication inadmissible under rule 110, paragraph 6, of its rules of
procedure.
7.3
The State party argues that the execution of the deportation measure in question in no way stemmed
from a desire on the part of the Government to obviate the right of recourse available to the person concerned,
83
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents