Incompetence of authority to impose hunting fine

ATA/290/1996Court of Justice / Administrative ChamberMay 21, 1996Annulled

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

The TA dealt with a challenge to an 800 CHF fine imposed by the DIEAR for training a dog for hunting. It found that the decision was null because the DIEAR was obviously not competent to impose this penal sanction. The appellant therefore succeeded in having the fine set aside.

Omnilex headnote

LFaune.42; competence of the sanctioning authority; an administrative decision imposing a fine of penal nature is null when issued by an authority lacking obvious competence. The court may raise such incompetence ex officio and, where the defect is manifest, annul the sanction without examining the merits of the offence.

Full text

Descripteurs

NULLITE; CHIEN; AMENDE; COMPETENCE; IEA

Normes

LFaune.42

Résumé

Amende de Frs 800.- infligée par le DIEAR au recourant pour avoir entrainé à la chasse son chien. Le TA a contesté la nullité de la décision, vu l'incompétence évidente du DIEAR pour infliger cette amende de nature pénale.

Keywords

nullitycompetencefinehuntingdogpenal nature

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether the DIEAR had competence to impose an 800 CHF fine of a penal nature for hunting-related conduct.

Extracted holding

The fine was null because the DIEAR was manifestly incompetent to impose a penal fine of this kind.

Extracted reasoning

The court held that the authority lacked obvious competence, so the sanctioning decision could not stand.

Incompetence of authority to impose hunting fineAI generated