The First Hall of the Civil Court has declared that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Principal Permanent Secretary did not breach any civil liberties and did not discriminate against Christopher Ciantar when they asked for him to resign from his post as Permanent Secretary on 12 March 2013.
Ciantar served as Permanent Secretary to former Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs George Pullicino,
Ciantar alleged that he had been unfairly forced to resign, and was further discriminated against when he was not chosen for the post Director General of the Civil Service.
The court, which was presided over by Judge Silvio Meli, ruled that the decision followed Constitutional procedure through the consultation with the Public Service Commission and signed off on by the President.
On his second claim, the court noted that the candidate chosen had superior qualifications given that he held a Masters degree and two Doctorates in the field, along with high-level experience both locally and abroad, as the Chairperson of the European Fisheries Control Agency.
The case was summarily dismissed.