Company protests against VRT licence withdrawal

A company which carries out vehicle roadworthiness tests yesterday filed a judicial protest against the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) calling on it to halt the withdrawal of its licence and to stop refusing its VRT certificates.

CCD claimed that in April 2002 it was appointed as a contracted operator and was authorised to carry out VRT tests at its premises in Zebbug, Malta.

However, on October 22 the company was informed by the ADT that it was in violation of the contract of appointment as it had either not tested a particular vehicle properly or had failed to adhere to the regulations governing the tests.

The company was also called upon by the ADT to pay the sum of Lm5,000.

In its protest filed in the First Hall of the Civil Court, CCD claimed it had always scrupulously adhered to the VRT regulations even in the case of the particular vehicle mentioned by the ADT.

Consequently, CCD claimed it did not owe any money to the ADT.

Furthermore, the ADT's actions in respect of CCD were placing the company under financial pressure and were damaging its good name in this particular market.

CCD formally protested about the manner in which the ADT had taken this administrative decision as it did not give reasons for the decision itself.

The discretion with which the ADT was vested at law had always to be exercised with an element of reasonableness.

CCD further protested about this decision for the ADT had violated the principle of proportionality that was required by the European Union's courts.

The judicial protest was signed by Dr Edward Zammit Lewis and Dr Joseph Giglio.