Complaint as a legal remedy under the general administrative procedure act

Abstract

In addition to resolving administrative matters in the administrative procedure, the Croatian General Administrative Procedure Act regulates five other types of subsidiary legal protection that are not decided by an administrative act. These are three types of administrative actions (initiating procedure ex officio by petition; notifications on the conditions for exercising and protecting rights; protection from other actions of public law bodies), actions of public service providers, as well as non-fulfillment of contractual obligations by public bodies (administrative contracts). As an instrument of legal protection with regard to the mentioned forms of administrative activity, an ordinary appellate procedure is envisaged – the complaint. The paper analyzes the legislative genesis of the mentioned additional institutes, the general regulatory framework related to complaints, as well as the provisions related to a particular type of complaint. Due to the significant differences between the five legal institutes to which the complaint relates, there are also certain differences between the types of complaints in their essential legal features. These features are compared horizontally, using legal-theoretical and normative criteria. In relation to all types of complaints, a judicial remedy is provided in the administrative dispute. Therefore, the specifics of this type of administrative disputes are also considered. In conclusion, among other issues, the procedural importance of complaint for the realization of the rights and legal interests of citizens and legal entities, and indirectly for the quality of administrative activities, is emphasized.