The Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court recently ruled on a case that caused a stir within the Ministry of Agriculture, dismissing a petition filed against the appointment of Dr. Chen Henig as head of the Animal Welfare Division. The petitioners sought to cancel the tender and mandate a re-publication, citing alleged irregularities in the selection process and the conduct of the professional committee.
The core of the petitioners' argument centered on the alleged unjustified modification of threshold requirements for the position, as well as claims regarding the composition of the selection committee. They contended that committee members lacked sufficient expertise in animal welfare and held professional ties with the Director of Veterinary Services, which they argued resulted in bias. Conversely, the State maintained that the modification of threshold requirements was executed within its legal authority, noting that previous tenders had failed to attract suitable candidates, resulting in a limited pool of applicants. The State emphasized that the committee's composition adhered to Civil Service regulations and that all members possessed relevant experience.
Following a review of the evidence and arguments, the Court determined there was no basis for the petitioners' claims of dependency or prejudice in the process. The judge clarified that the remedy of canceling a tender is an extreme measure not justified by the circumstances of this case. The ruling noted that Dr. Henig achieved the highest scores in the established personal evaluation parameters. Additionally, the Court ordered each of the two plaintiffs to pay the State 20,000 NIS in court costs and 25,000 NIS in legal fees. Attorneys Shahar Hoffman and Anat Lazar, representing Dr. Henig, welcomed the decision, describing it as the conclusion of a prolonged legal effort intended to undermine her selection, and stressed that the Court ratified the appointment as having been made lawfully. This judgment serves as a reminder of the significant weight the Court places on the discretion of state institutions in managing tenders, provided they act according to Civil Service regulations and administrative fairness.