History

Brief history of administrative justice

The introduction of administrative justice in Bulgaria and the establishment of the Supreme Administrative Court has had a beneficial effect on the activity of the Bulgarian administration and contributes to the construction, development and validation of our country as democratic and legal.

With the adoption of the Administrative Justice Act on 3.ІV.1912, which established the Supreme Administrative Court as a court with jurisdiction over the whole country for the consideration of public disputes, thus solid foundation of administrative justice in Bulgaria is created. The Supreme Administrative Court is a control instance of unlawful acts of the administration and a cassation instance in relation to the solutions in the administrative courts.

In their history the Supreme Administrative Court and the Bulgarian administrative justice have undergone a complex and controversial path: of validation and improvement; of narrowing of powers; exclusion of judicial review of a number of administrative acts (1914); of renaming and transferring the court in the office of the Ministry of Justice (1922); the closing of the court (1948); and finally - its restoration ten years ago (1996).

The Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria from 1991 ensured that each legal entity in the country can appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court acts of the state and municipal administration, as well as regulations affecting the rights and interests protected by the law. A common clause was adopted allowing the appeal of administrative acts. Citizens and legal persons have the right to appeal any administrative action affecting them, unless those specified by law.

The Judiciary Act of 1994 amended the basic organization of the administrative justice system by adopting a two-instance system carried out by the Supreme Administrative Court and district courts, some of which are separate administrative units.

Regarding the complaints by citizens against unlawful administrative acts, the Supreme Administrative Court successfully avoids blocking the activity of the administration. Clashes between the executive acts and decisions of the Supreme Administrative Court only assist the court in its efforts to preserve the independence of the judiciary system and strengthening the rule of law.

The Administrative Procedure Code adopted by the XL National Assembly on 29.III.2006 significantly contributed to further strengthening of the rule of law in Bulgaria - the most reliable guarantee for the protection of the rights of citizens in their contact with the administration. Other important objectives of the Code are to achieve a simpler, faster, accessible and understandable administrative procedure and especially - reduce opportunities for corruption.

Establishment of Administrative Court Vidin

The adoption of the new Administrative Procedure Code aims at updating the legal regulation of the court and to establish regional courts to consider administrative matters at first instance. It was adopted by the National Assembly on March 29, 2006 and promulgated in SG issue 30 on April 11, 2006. Based on the code 28 administrative courts have been created, including the Administrative Court - Vidin. Following a national competition by decision № 49 ( 28.11.2006) and decision № 51 ( 29.11.2006) of the Supreme Judicial Council for judges in the Administrative Court - Vidin - Bilyana Pantaleeva, Nelly Doncheva, Nikolai Vitkov, Antonia Genadieva, Rositsa Slavcheva and Boris Borisov were appointed. With decision № 54 of 20.12.2006 the Supreme Judicial Court Judge appoints Nelly Doncheva as administrative manager - President of the Administrative Court - Vidin. She entered into office on January 3, 2007. The other judges, according to the decision of the Supreme Judicial Council, took office on February 15, 2007.

The court initiates cases since March 1, 2007.