The Public Service Commission has the power to inquire into and investigate any selection process in order to determine whether a petition submitted by a candidate on matters concerning competitive selection is justified or not.
Petitions regarding a selection process are to reach the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission, in writing by e-mailing on psc@gov.mt within:
i. Ten (10) working days from the date on which notification appears on the website of the respective Ministry/Departments stating that the result has been issued, in the case of posts or positions in salary scale 6 or below; or
ii. Ten (10) working days from the date on which the result is sent to the candidate concerned by e-mail at the e-mail address provided by candidates on their application form, in the case of posts or positions in salary scale 5 or higher.
If a petition, complaint or appeal is found to be justified, the Commission is empowered to change and/or annul any wrong decision and shall take whatever action it deems fit to provide appropriate redress, including the issue of a revised result or the annulment of the selection process, as well as recommending disciplinary/criminal action against defaulting officers/persons in cases of abuse, as considered appropriate.
A revised result shall not give grounds for the submission of fresh petitions. However, the Commission may consider petitions from any candidate who is placed at a disadvantage in the revised ranking.
In exercising its power to change and/or annul any wrong decision, the Commission may recommend to the Prime Minister that an appointment be revoked in terms of sub-regulation 32 of the PSC Appointments Regulations.
In the case of a flawed selection exercise, or in other cases as deemed necessary and appropriate by the PSC, the Commission retains the right to order a fresh selection process by a fresh Selection Board.
Further information can be found in the following:
Manual on Industrial Relations & the Selection and Appointment Process under Delegated Authority in the Malta Public Service