85. The Applicant further contends that despite the clarity of the legal provision,
the Cassation Court rendered an arbitrary decision against him. Thus, the
Cassation Court ruled on the matter in disregard of the express provisions
of the law by deciding not to refer the matter back to the Court of Appeal for
determination, and ultimately to the full bench of the Cassation Court for a
final determination.
86. The Applicant argues that the judgment 15 October 2008 in Case No.
20283, which upheld the auctioneer’s decision in favour of AEREC, is a
gross violation of the procedural rules under Tunisian domestic law, in
particular Articles 444 and 425 of the Code of Civil and Commercial
Procedures.
87. In reply, the Respondent State avers that the decisions issued by its
domestic courts are faultless, given the safeguards enshrined by the lawmakers, such as the principle of two-tier litigation and the oversight role of
the Cassation Court, a court established by the law, and composed of
competent, impartial and independent judges with recognized experience in
the field, in accordance with the law.
88. The Respondent State also submits that the Applicant did not own the
property in question at any time before or after the dispute, and thus entered
the auction on equal footing with other members of the public.
89. The Respondent State further submits that in making their decisions, its
domestic courts defer to no other authority than the law, not even to the
State under which they are established, so that they are independent. It is
the Respondent State’s contention that as a result, it is not responsible for
the decisions of its domestic courts and is not in any manner obligated to
compensate anyone for prejudice arising from court decisions.
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