The Administrative Court has reversed its earlier decision regarding the former director of the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education (AKOKVO), Goran Danilović. According to the three-member Panel of Judges, he was not required to demonstrate his proficiency in a foreign language, as this was not stipulated in the public competition.

As reported by “Vijesti,” the Council of Judges, comprising Svetlana Radosevic, Veljko Vujović, and Lidija Novović, has overturned the Government of Montenegro’s decision to dismiss Danilović from his position on January 14, appointing Tatjana Ćalasan as acting director.

Previously, the Council of Judges, consisting of Medina Musovic, Tatjana Krpović, and Tamara Bulajić, ruled that Danilović’s appointment as director in 2023 was unlawful, noting that the competition required “knowledge of English or French – level A1,” but it was unclear how this requirement was assessed since the selected candidate did not provide relevant certification.

When asked about Danilović’s potential return to the Agency, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation informed “Vijesti” that they have yet to receive the court’s ruling.

They mentioned that they learned about the ruling through the media.

“The Administrative Court has ruled to annul the Government’s decision to dismiss the Agency’s director, which followed a previous ruling by the same Administrative Court last November,” stated the Ministry of National Education and Research.

The United Montenegro party, of which Danilović is the president, also commented on the matter.

“The Administrative Court of Montenegro has annulled the Government’s decision to dismiss Goran Danilović from his position as Director of the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance in Higher Education, thereby reinstating him. After thoroughly reviewing the disputed legal issue, the Court made a decision in accordance with Article 36 of the Law on Administrative Disputes and annulled the Government’s decision as unlawful,” the announcement on Ujedinjena’s Facebook page read.

As per the Administrative Dispute Act, when a court annuls an administrative action, the case returns to its previous state prior to the annulled action.

“Should another act be required based on the nature of the administrative matter, the defendant public authority must adopt or undertake that action without delay, and no later than 30 days from the judgment’s delivery. The defendant authority is obliged to adhere to the legal interpretations and observations of the Administrative Court,” the Law stipulates.

Members from the former Democratic Front government opposed Danilović’s dismissal on January 14. As previously reported by “Vijesti,” Deputy Prime Ministers Momo Koprivica and Aleksa Bečić, along with ministers Vladimir Joković, Dragan Krapović, and Danilo Šaranović, also expressed their dissent.

News