← Environmental Law Center← Centro de Derecho Ambiental
Res. 29477-2023 Sala Constitucional · Sala Constitucional · 14/11/2023
OutcomeResultado
The Constitutional Chamber declares the amparo inadmissible since the underlying claim is an enforcement proceeding for rulings issued in case 19-003040-0007-CO, which must be resolved within that same case, not through a new amparo.La Sala Constitucional declara improcedente el recurso de amparo en vista de que el reclamo subyacente es una gestión de incumplimiento de sentencias dictadas en el expediente 19-003040-0007-CO, la cual debe ser resuelta en esa misma vía, no mediante un nuevo amparo.
SummaryResumen
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo filed against AyA, the Ministry of Health, and the Municipality of Curridabat for alleged non-compliance with a prior ruling (No. 2021015951) that ordered the resolution of water shortages in Miravalles I and sewage problems in La Ponderosa. The petitioner claimed that the authorities acknowledged they had not complied with the order, requesting that the non-compliance be recorded with corresponding criminal liability and damages. The Chamber finds that, although formally an amparo for violation of the right of petition, the underlying claim is a new enforcement proceeding for the rulings issued in case 19-003040-0007-CO. Applying the party-presentation principle of Article 8 of the Constitutional Jurisdiction Law, it holds that it cannot rule on non-compliance through this route; rather, the claim must be heard in the original case. It orders the briefs, reports, and evidence to be detached and added to case 19-003040-0007-CO for a decision there, archiving the present amparo.La Sala Constitucional desestima un recurso de amparo interpuesto contra el AyA, el Ministerio de Salud y la Municipalidad de Curridabat por supuesto incumplimiento de una sentencia anterior (N° 2021015951) que ordenaba solucionar el desabastecimiento de agua en Miravalles I y el problema de aguas negras en La Ponderosa. El recurrente alegó que las autoridades reconocieron no haber cumplido lo ordenado, solicitando que se consignara el incumplimiento con la consecuente responsabilidad penal y el pago de daños. La Sala analiza que, aunque formalmente se plantea como amparo por violación del derecho de petición, el reclamo de fondo es una nueva gestión de incumplimiento de las sentencias emitidas en el expediente 19-003040-0007-CO. Aplica el principio dispositivo del artículo 8 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, señalando que no puede pronunciarse sobre el incumplimiento por esta vía, sino que la reclamación debe ser conocida y resuelta en el expediente original. Ordena desglosar el escrito, los informes y la prueba, y agregarlos al expediente 19-003040-0007-CO para que allí se resuelva lo procedente, archivando el presente recurso.
Key excerptExtracto clave
III.- ON THE MERITS. In this case, a reading of the extensive initial brief clearly establishes that the petitioner appears before the Chamber to allege, in substance, the non-compliance with what was ordered in ruling No. 2019-012231 (...) This is more than evident, because in his petition he expressly requests the following: "PETITION 1. I request that the AMPARO be GRANTED in its entirety. The foregoing, given that through this last communication the public officials condemned by the Constitutional Chamber in the ruling at issue publicly acknowledge NOT having complied with what was ordered in the judgment, thus, it is requested that the non-compliance with said judgment be recorded with the corresponding criminal process established in the Constitutional Jurisdiction Law." Note that, although the claimant alleges a violation of Article 27 of the Constitution, he not only fails to clearly identify in his brief any specific request that has not been answered by the respondent authorities, but also does not request among his claims that any of his requests be responded to, as the Constitutional Jurisdiction Law is based on the party-presentation principle (Article 8) (...) Under these conditions, moreover, it would not be appropriate to rule, through a new amparo, on the alleged non-compliance with the aforementioned rulings. Rather, the claimant's allegation must be heard and decided in the case file 19-003040-0007-CO itself, and therefore the brief received at 21:21 on August 14, 2023, and the reports rendered by the respondent authorities, together with all the accompanying evidence, must be detached, and after a certification to be kept in the record, added to case 19-003040-0007-CO, so that what is legally appropriate may be decided there.III.- SOBRE EL FONDO. En la especie, una lectura del extenso memorial de interposición permite establecer, claramente, que el recurrente se apersona ante la Sala para acusar, en el fondo, el incumplimiento de lo ordenado en la sentencia N° 2019-012231 (...) Esto queda más que evidenciado, porque en su petitoria solicita expresamente lo siguiente: "PETITORIA 1- Solicito se declare con lugar el RECURSO DE AMPARO en todos sus extremos. Lo anterior, en vista que por medio de este último oficio los funcionarios públicos condenados por la Sala Constitucional en la resolución de marras, reconocen públicamente NO haber cumplido con lo dictado por la sentencia, así las cosas, se procede a solicitar se consigne el incumplimiento de dicha sentencia con la correspondiente ejecución del proceso penal establecido en la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional." Nótese que, aunque el reclamante alega violado el artículo 27 constitucional, no solamente no identifica cabalmente en su escrito alguna petición concreta que no haya sido respondida por las Autoridades recurridas, sino que tampoco solicita entre sus pretensiones que se le dé contestación a alguna gestión suya, siendo que la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional parte del principio dispositivo (artículo 8º) (...) En estas condiciones, además, no resultaría procedente pronunciarse, por medio de un nuevo recurso de amparo, sobre el alegado incumplimiento de los fallos antes indicados. Más bien, el reclamo del recurrente debe ser conocido y resuelto en el propio expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, por lo que corresponde desglosar el escrito recibido a las 21:21 horas del 14 de agosto de 2023 y los informes rendidos por las Autoridades recurridas, en conjunto con toda la prueba que los acompaña, y previa certificación que deberá dejarse en autos, agregarlos al expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, para que allí se resuelva lo que en derecho proceda.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"no resultaría procedente pronunciarse, por medio de un nuevo recurso de amparo, sobre el alegado incumplimiento de los fallos antes indicados."
"it would not be appropriate to rule, through a new amparo, on the alleged non-compliance with the aforementioned rulings."
Considerando III
"no resultaría procedente pronunciarse, por medio de un nuevo recurso de amparo, sobre el alegado incumplimiento de los fallos antes indicados."
Considerando III
"el reclamo del recurrente debe ser conocido y resuelto en el propio expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO"
"the claimant's allegation must be heard and decided in the case file 19-003040-0007-CO itself"
Considerando III
"el reclamo del recurrente debe ser conocido y resuelto en el propio expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO"
Considerando III
"la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional parte del principio dispositivo (artículo 8º), según el cual este Tribunal no interviene oficiosamente, sino a petición de parte"
"the Constitutional Jurisdiction Law is based on the party-presentation principle (Article 8), according to which this Court does not intervene ex officio, but only upon request by a party"
Considerando III
"la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional parte del principio dispositivo (artículo 8º), según el cual este Tribunal no interviene oficiosamente, sino a petición de parte"
Considerando III
Full documentDocumento completo
Constitutional Chamber Date of Resolution: November 14, 2023 at 09:35 Case File: 23-019368-0007-CO Type of Matter: Amparo Action CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE. San José, at nine hours thirty-five minutes on the fourteenth of November two thousand twenty-three.
Amparo action processed in case file number 23-019368-0007-CO, filed by Nombre10077 , identity card CED20256, against the INSTITUTO COSTARRICENSE DE ACUEDUCTOS Y ALCANTARILLADOS (AYA), the MINISTERIO DE SALUD, and the MUNICIPALIDAD DE CURRIDABAT.
Whereas:
Following the reactivation of the Interinstitutional Commission for addressing the shortage of potable water in Miravalles I, Tirrases, Curridabat, the Curridabat Health Area (Área Rectora de Salud Curridabat) has complied with what was ordered in relation to the reactivation of the Commission. Likewise, officials from both the Curridabat Health Area and the General Directorate of Health of the Ministry of Health have continued to systematically contribute to the various Working Groups for addressing the reported problem, which is highly complex. To date, the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission is composed of the following institutions: Municipality of Curridabat (coordinator), ICAA, Curridabat Health Area, General Directorate of Health-Ministry of Health, IMAS, MIVAH, Ombudsman's Office (Defensoría de los Habitantes), which meets periodically on a monthly or bimonthly basis according to relevant issues and follow-up on established agreements. 3.
Regarding resolving the potable water shortage problem within a maximum period of 24 months, it is noted that through Resolution No. 2021015951 of 9:20 a.m. on July 16, 2021, the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) granted an extension of the deadline to resolve matters related to 'addressing the water shortage problem in the Miravalles I urban development project, so that the necessary actions are executed in a coordinated manner to definitively resolve said problem, within a maximum period of 24 months,' and consequently, a new compliance deadline of May 8, 2024, is granted. From 2019 to date, coordinated work has been carried out with the various institutions that make up the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission, for addressing and definitively resolving the potable water supply problem in the Miravalles I sector; as a result of this, the following has occurred: a. In a meeting on November 6, 2019, Mr.
Name29568 (ICAA) mentioned that the initial results of the water availability analysis are indicating that there is neither water capacity nor hydraulic capacity for the Miravalles II site. In view of this, the members of the other technical working groups urged the search for alternative solutions that involve improving the quality of life of the people living in this place. Folios 00626 to 00627 This information is further supported in MEMORANDUM No. UEN-PyDOCA-GAM-2019-00509, from the ICAA, dated November 21, 2019. Said document mentions that: • There is no water capacity to provide availability to Miravalles II. • The area where the Miravalles II sector is located is outside the coverage area of the Metropolitan Aqueduct. The Miravalles I sector, which is located within the GAM coverage area, currently has a deficient supply, as it is supplied from the Cipreses tank, Tres Ríos system, and this system is deficient in the dry season. • The forecast for the 2020 dry season in the Miravalles I and Tirrases sector is daily disruption from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., that is, 8 hours of daily disruption.
Therefore, it is not advisable to approve any further availability in said deficient sector, as it is detrimental to existing users who themselves already have a deficient supply in the dry season. • Regarding water capacity, the sector in question does not meet the water capacity required to absorb a development like Miravalles II. Folios 00636 to 00656 b. In a meeting on April 15, 2020, progress from the Political Working Group and the technical side of the Municipality of Curridabat is presented. The topics addressed indicate, with respect to the Political Working Group, that three meetings were held between the heads of the Municipal Mayor's Office of Curridabat, the Ministry of Housing, and the ICAA, addressing issues of potable water and security. Acceptance by the ICAA was established to study the short- and medium-term solution for providing potable water to the Miravalles area. Folios 00677 to 00678 c. On February 11, 2021, the following relevant topics for compliance with the Constitutional Chamber's Vote (Voto) are presented: ICAA representatives explain the locations and operation of the current tank and pumping system in the Miravalles I community.
They add the social problems and illegalities connected to the potable system, as well as the vandalism caused to the infrastructure. The importance is reiterated that the property is owned by the Ministry of Health, Central Level, whose representative is the institutional head. In the short term, the construction of a new exposed iron discharge line, security of the storage tank through the construction of a new wall, and controlled public standpipes for Miravalles II for 10 to 12 hours daily are agreed upon; families must rely on individual storage tanks, and families with elderly persons and persons with disabilities will be prioritized. Folios 00726 to 00731 d. On March 3, 2021, the following progress is presented: Proposed solution for potable water supply: Eng. Kerwin Campos (ICAA) presented a proposal for improvements to the Miravalles Aqueduct System, San José, which comprises the following objectives: make the necessary improvements to the Miravalles pumping station, design and build the discharge pipe from the pumping station to the Miravalles tank site, improve the infrastructure of the storage tank and complementary works that facilitate its operation and maintenance, design and install the distribution network, and communal supply points for non-subscribers.
It is estimated that the design will be ready around November 2021. It is clarified that the number of communal supply points will vary depending on the results of the topographic survey, the projected water volume, and the comprehensive design. Said supply points must be located on the public road. Folios 00734 to 00740 e. On August 5, 2021, the following progress is presented: Eng. Alejandro Calderón of the ICAA states that the ICAA does not currently have the resources to execute the work for improving the potable water supply system and installing community supply points in Miravalles if it is intended to be addressed with the required immediacy. As of this date, Eng. Kerwin Campos gives a presentation on the progress, indicating: 100% progress on the topographic survey, 100% progress on hydraulic modeling of the system (WaterGEMS), 90% progress on the hydraulic calculation report, 85% progress on the design and drawing (plan and profile) of the discharge pipe, 15% progress on the design and drawing (plan and profile) of the distribution pipe.
Folios 00937 to 00949 f. On March 2, 2022, officials from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados), as the governing body for potable water service, presented to the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission the design, budget, and official schedule for the Miravalles Urban Development Project Aqueduct Improvement Project, where work was carried out on hydraulic, structural, and electromechanical designs, calculation report, technical material specifications report, construction plans, and work budget, which was estimated at a cost of 338,645,035 colones. Said project was submitted to the GAM Sub-management of the ICAA so that the respective follow-up and search for financing at the national or international level for its implementation could be provided. Folios 001125 to 01128 g. On July 10, 2023, ICAA officials presented to the Commission the project for improvements to the Miravalles sanitary sewer system, San José.
They stated that the process was carried out to incorporate this project into BPIP 001941 potable water in peri-urban areas of the AMSJ–Linda Vista de Río Azul; this allows for not only the development of the Miravalles Urban Development Project Aqueduct Improvement Project in terms of potable water, but also the integration of the sanitary sewer system; therefore, the ICAA projects budgeting ₡450,000,000.00 for the year 2024 for the comprehensive development (potable water aqueduct and sanitary sewer) of the project in Miravalles, thus updating the total project value relative to what was estimated in March 2022. It is indicated that work is being done to adjust certain details of the construction plans, as well as the schedule, and the characteristics of the project are presented, which are cited: • The project consists of replacing the existing discharge and distribution pipes, improving the pumping station and the existing storage tank, in order to eliminate all illicit connections and improve the quality of the potable water service. • The project begins at the Miravalles 1 EB, where a series of civil and electromechanical improvements will be made.
The implementation of three 10 Hp pumping units is proposed, where 2 units will operate and 1 will rest. Up to 12 l/s will be pumped from the EB to the Miravalles 1 TA. • The discharge line will transport the 12 l/s from the EB to the TA. It will have a length of 347 m and will be HDPE pipe DN100mm DR13.5 installed via horizontal directional drilling (PHD). • A series of civil improvements will also be made to the Miravalles 1 Storage Tank. This tank has a capacity of approximately 24 m³. • From the Miravalles 1 TA, a new distribution network will be installed in HDPE DN100mm DR13.5, via PHD. In total, 1.7 km of new distribution pipe will be installed. • In addition, the replacement of 325 domestic connections and the installation of 2 public standpipes and 4 hydrants are contemplated. It is also stated by the ICAA representatives that land invasion was determined along the path where the project would be developed; therefore, it is agreed to address this matter with the Municipality of Curridabat and La Unión, given that this aspect must be resolved prior to the construction of the project.
Folios 01433 to 01442. h. On August 28, 2023, during the meeting of the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission, Eng. Marcos Arce, an ICAA official, reiterated that the institution is seeking financing for the implementation of the potable water supply project, which aims to supply not only the community of Miravalles in the Canton of Curridabat but also the community of Address537 in the Canton of La Unión, as well as the implementation of the sanitary sewer in that sector. It is further clarified that the development of this project represents minimal variations to the plans presented in January 2022 for the potable water supply of Miravalles. Folios 01449 to 1452 In accordance with the progress report on compliance with Resolution No. 2019012231 of the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission, submitted on July 7, 2021, which was the subject of an extension of the initial deadline of the judgment of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2019, a schedule was established by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers to materialize the execution of the Miravalles Urban Development Project Aqueduct Improvement Project, which established that 'Project execution contemplates an approximate duration of 729 days, which began last April 2021 with the survey of the AyA project's topographic plans.
For its part, the design phase is estimated to be completed in February 2022 and the execution phase in May 2024…'; given the foregoing, the governing body for potable water supply has completed the stages of surveying topographic plans and designing the works, so the execution of the project would remain pending for the year 2024, subject to obtaining financing for the works. As evidenced by the foregoing, the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission, in a coordinated and active manner, has executed actions and followed up on them to see the potable water supply problem in the Miravalles sector definitively resolved; however, multiple facets have arisen in the process that have hindered the short-term implementation of the project, such as the lack of water capacity in the sector, the invasion of land by residents of the sector along the path where the project is intended to be developed, the lack of financing for the construction of the works, the expansion of the project for wastewater collection, which, while it does allow for visualizing a comprehensive project (potable water and sanitary sewer), also entails new studies and additional budgets.
Another element that has influenced the process of consolidating the solution to the problem of providing potable water has been the instability in the political authorities and decision-makers at the ICAA, given that the sequence of agreements reached in the meetings of the Interinstitutional Commission does not remain constant and sustained over time. SECOND: In judicial judgment No. 2019-012231, the Curridabat Health Area is ordered to, within a period of 6 months, carry out the corresponding actions to address the black water (aguas negras) problem; it must be clarified to the Constitutional Chamber that it draws this Directorate's attention that the Petitioner alleges that said intervention is for the Miravalles sector, when it is clear from the judicial file that with respect to this order, it pertains to the Ponderosa Sector of Tirrases, in accordance with the subject of the complaint that precedes the Amparo Action (Recurso de Amparo).
It must be clear to the Constitutional Chamber that judicial judgment No. 2019-012231 pertains to two different sectors of the Tirrases District: regarding potable water supply, it corresponds to Miravalles I, and regarding the black water problem, the affected sector is Ponderosa. As evidenced in folios 01421 to 01424, the information regarding the actions generated by this organizational unit in addressing the black water problem is established in the technical report official communication MS-DRRSCS-DARSCU-IT-248-2023, which was notified to Mr. Name10077 on June 20, 2023, in response to the petitioner's request for information. Said report establishes the number of housing units intervened, those pending verification, and the various facets encountered in definitively resolving the problem. Based on the foregoing and in compliance with the order emanating from judicial judgment No. 2019-012231, regarding the reactivation of the Interinstitutional Commission for addressing the water shortage in the Miravalles urban development project, it is deemed proven that this organizational unit has been part of and actively participated in the cited Commission, contributing in the technical and/or political working groups, within its competence, the aspects pertinent to this Ministry, as well as in following up on the agreements raised within the Commission.
Likewise, the Constitutional Chamber is informed that the period granted in the judgment of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2019, for the actions attributed to the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission to definitively resolve the potable water supply problem in Miravalles I was 24 months and extended through Resolution No. 2021015951 of 9:20 a.m. on July 16, 2021, to May 8, 2024; therefore, we are still within the legal period to comply with the order and/or request a new extension of the granted time due to the complexity of the problem, which results from development and appropriation of space without planning or land-use regulation (ordenanza territorial), vandalism of water supply sources, the lack of water capacity in the sector, expansion of the project for wastewater collection, among others. It is complex, so its intervention involves a multiplicity of technical, social, and political actions and coordination, as well as the respective financing for its execution.
Some of these actions have been developed over time, others are currently being developed, and there are others pending execution. As can be seen from the administrative file attached as evidence, and from this report, this Health Authority has actively participated in the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission to address the water shortage problem in the Miravalles 1 urban development project sector, thus complying with the order issued by this honorable Chamber through a resolution. Therefore, this honorable Chamber is informed that this Health Authority has carried out the corresponding actions within the Miravalles Interinstitutional Commission to ensure compliance with what was ordered by the Constitutional Chamber through judgment 2019-012231, which extended the compliance period for said commission until the month of May 2024; therefore, the actions described in this report demonstrate the concrete actions that this health authority has developed jointly with the Municipality of the Canton and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers to seek a definitive solution to the problem experienced by the Miravalles urban development project, located in the Tirrases sector.
Likewise, this honorable Chamber is made aware that the petitioner attempts to confuse Your Authority by mixing the potable water supply problem, which is specific to the Miravalles sector, with the black water disposal problems of the Ponderosa sector, which are clarified through this report and are being timely addressed by this Health Area... Given this situation and considering that this Health Authority has demonstrated that it has been fully complying with what was ordered by this Constitutional Court and that, regarding the issue of the potable water supply problem for the residents of the Miravalles sector of Tirrases, there is a compliance deadline that has not expired, that is, in effect until May 2024…” Requests that the filed action be dismissed.
Drafted by Magistrate Garro Vargas; and,
Considering:
The petitioner accuses non-compliance with what was ordered by this Chamber in judgment No. 2021015951 of 09:20 a.m. on July 16, 2021. Thus, he requests that the amparo action be granted in all its aspects, given that, by means of an official communication, the public officials condemned by the Constitutional Chamber in resolution No. 2021015951 publicly acknowledged not having complied with what was ordered by the judgment, and he requests that the non-compliance with said judgment be recorded, with the corresponding execution of the criminal procedure established in the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction (Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional). Likewise, he requires that no further additional time be granted to these officials, since, as has been repeatedly seen, the deadlines granted by the Constitutional Chamber are not used to comply with the judgment, but rather to unnecessarily prolong the matter, with the consequent harm to the citizenry. Finally, he requests that the defendant be ordered to pay the damages caused.
Of importance for the decision in this matter, the following facts are deemed duly proven, either because they have been thus accredited or because the respondent omitted to refer to them as provided in the initial order:
Likewise, Alicia Borja Rodríguez and Manuel Rosales Caamaño, in their respective capacities as Mayor of Curridabat and Director of the Curridabat Health Area, or whoever holds those positions, are ordered to immediately coordinate and adopt the necessary measures and execute the respective evictions of those families located in the risk zones identified since 2009 that currently remain at risk to their physical integrity; and that within a period of 6 months coordinate and resolve the matter related to the complaint filed by the petitioner on May 28, 2018, regarding the black water problem, and notify him of the resolution...".
The joined party petition is declared inadmissible. Notify this resolution to Jimmy Cruz Jiménez and Melissa Arguedas Arce, in their respective capacities as Mayor of Curridabat and Director of the Curridabat Health Area, or whoever holds such positions, personally".
The foregoing under the warning of ordering the certification of documents to the Public Prosecutor's Office against the mayor of Curridabat and the opening of an administrative procedure against the acting director of the Curridabat Health Area if they fail to do so. On the other hand, the deadline granted in judgment No. 2019-012231 of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2019, is extended only regarding 'addressing the water shortage problem in the Miravalles I urban development project, so that in a coordinated manner, the necessary actions are executed that definitively resolve said problem, within a maximum period of 24 months', and consequently, Tomás Martínez Baldares, Jimmy Cruz Jiménez, Óscar Mora Altamirano, and Johanna Chavarría Víquez, in their respective capacities as executive president of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, mayor of Curridabat, president of the Municipal Council of Curridabat, and acting director of the Curridabat Health Area, or whoever holds those positions, are granted a deadline until May 8, 2024, solely to solve the water shortage problem in the Miravalles I urban development project, in accordance with the terms ordered in judgment No. 2019-012231 of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2019.
In all other respects, the motions filed are dismissed. Notify this resolution to Jimmy Cruz Jiménez and Melissa Arguedas Arce, in their respective capacities as mayor of Curridabat and acting director of the Curridabat Health Area, or whoever holds such positions, personally".
In the case at hand, a reading of the extensive filing brief allows for clearly establishing that the petitioner appears before the Chamber to accuse, in essence, non-compliance with what was ordered in judgment No. 2019-012231 of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2019, issued in the amparo action processed under file No. 19-003040-0007-CO, together with what was ordered in rulings No. 2020020111 of 09:40 a.m. on October 20, 2020 and, especially, No. 2021015951 of 09:20 a.m. on July 16, 2021, which resolved non-compliance proceedings in that same file. This is more than evidenced because in his petition he expressly requests the following:
"PETITION 1- I request that the AMPARO ACTION be granted in all its aspects.
The foregoing, given that through this latest official communication, the public officials condemned by the Constitutional Chamber in the aforementioned resolution publicly acknowledge NOT having complied with what was ordered by the judgment; therefore, I proceed to request that the non-compliance with said judgment be recorded, with the corresponding execution of the criminal procedure established in the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction.
2- I request that no further additional time be granted to these officials, since, as has been repeatedly seen, the deadlines granted by the Constitutional Chamber are not used to comply with the judgment, but rather to unnecessarily prolong the matter, with the consequent harm to the citizenry.
3- The defendant be ordered to pay the damages caused".
It should be noted that, although the claimant alleges a violation of Article 27 of the Constitution, he not only fails to fully identify in his writing any concrete request that has not been responded to by the respondent Authorities, but he also does not request among his claims that any petition of his be answered, given that the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction is based on the principle of party initiation (dispositive principle) (Article 8), according to which this Court does not intervene ex officio, but only at the request of a party (see judgments No. 2004-10021 of 08:47 a.m. on September 10, 2004, No. 017810-2006 of 3:32 p.m. on December 12, 2006, No. 2007-001147 of 2:31 p.m. on January 31, 2007, 2007-001610 of 09:22 a.m. on February 9, 2007, No. 2007-001701 of 2:34 p.m. on February 13, 2007, No. 2007-003233 of 11:35 a.m. on March 9, 2007, and No. 2007-003266 of 12:08 p.m. on March 9, 2007).
Under these conditions, furthermore, it would not be appropriate to rule, through a new amparo action, on the alleged non-compliance with the previously indicated rulings. Rather, the petitioner's claim must be heard and resolved within the original file No. 19-003040-0007-CO; therefore, it is appropriate to detach the brief received at 9:21 p.m. on August 14, 2023, and the reports submitted by the respondent Authorities, together with all the evidence accompanying them, and, after prior certification to be left in the record, add them to file No. 19-003040-0007-CO, so that whatever is legally appropriate may be resolved therein.
The parties are warned that, if any document on paper has been provided, as well as objects or evidence contained in any additional device of an electronic, computer, magnetic, optical, telematic nature, or produced by new technologies, these must be withdrawn from the office within a maximum period of 30 business days counted from the notification of this judgment.
Otherwise, any material not removed within this period will be destroyed, pursuant to the provisions of the "Reglamento sobre Expediente Electrónico ante el Poder Judicial", approved by the Corte Plena in session No. 27-11 of August 22, 2011, article XXVI and published in Boletín Judicial number 19 of January 26, 2012, as well as in the agreement approved by the Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, in session No. 43-12 held on May 3, 2012, article LXXXI.
Por tanto:
Detach the brief received at 21:21 hours on August 14, 2023, and the reports rendered by the Respondent Authorities, together with all the evidence accompanying them, and after prior certification that must be left in the court record, add them to expediente No. 19-003040-0007-CO, where whatever is appropriate will be resolved. Archive this recurso de amparo.
Nombre137 V.
Nombre152 C.
Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
Jorge Araya G.
Anamari Garro V.
Ingrid Hess H.
SALA CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA. San José, a las nueve horas treinta y cinco minutos del catorce de noviembre de dos mil veintitres .
Recurso de amparo que se tramita en expediente número 23-019368-0007-CO, interpuesto por Nombre10077 , cédula de identidad CED20256, contra el INSTITUTO COSTARRICENSE DE ACUEDUCTOS Y ALCANTARILLADOS (AYA), el MINISTERIO DE SALUD y la MUNICIPALIDAD DE CURRIDABAT.-
Resultando:
Redacta la Magistrada Garro Vargas; y,
Considerando:
El recurrente acusa el incumplimiento de lo ordenado por esta Sala en la sentencia N° 2021015951 de las 09:20 horas del 16 de julio de 2021. Así, pide que se declare con lugar el recurso de amparo en todos sus extremos, en vista de que, por medio de un oficio, los funcionarios públicos condenados por la Sala Constitucional en la resolución N° 2021015951, reconocieron públicamente no haber cumplido lo dictado por la sentencia, y solicita que se consigne el incumplimiento de dicha sentencia con la correspondiente ejecución del proceso penal establecido en la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional. Asimismo, requiere que ya no se les brinde ningún plazo adicional a esos funcionarios, ya que, como se ha visto reiteradamente, los plazos otorgados por la Sala Constitucional no son utilizados para cumplir la sentencia, sino más bien, para darle largas innecesarias al asunto con el consecuente daño a la ciudadanía. Por último, solicita que se condene a la parte demandada al pago de los daños y perjuicios ocasionados.
De importancia para la decisión de este asunto, se estiman como debidamente demostrados los siguientes hechos, sea porque así han sido acreditados o bien porque el recurrido haya omitido referirse a ellos según lo prevenido en el auto inicial:
Asimismo, se ordena a Alicia Borja Rodríguez y a Manuel Rosales Caamaño, por su orden Alcaldesa de Curridabat y Director del Área Rectora de Salud de Curridabat, o a quienes ocupen esos cargos, que de inmediato coordinen y adopten las medidas necesarias y ejecuten los desalojos respectivos de aquellas familias que se encuentran en las zonas de riesgo constatadas desde el año 2009 y que actualmente mantengan en riesgo su integridad física; y que en el plazo de 6 meses coordinen y resuelvan lo relativo a la denuncia planteada por el recurrente el 28 de mayo de 2018, en relación con el problema de aguas negras, y le notifiquen lo resuelto..." .
Lo anterior bajo el apercibimiento de ordenar el testimonio de piezas ante el Ministerio Público contra el alcalde de Curridabat y la apertura de un procedimiento administrativo contra la directora a.i. del Área Rectora de Salud de Curridabat si no lo hicieren. Por otra parte, se amplía el plazo otorgado en la sentencia n.° 2019-012231 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2019, solo en lo relativo a 'la atención del problema de desabastecimiento de agua en el proyecto urbanístico Miravalles I, para que en forma coordinada se ejecuten las acciones necesarias que resuelvan de forma definitiva dicha problemática, en el plazo máximo de 24 meses' y en consecuencia se confiere a Tomás Martínez Baldares, Jimmy Cruz Jiménez, Óscar Mora Altamirano y Johanna Chavarría Víquez, por su orden, presidente ejecutivo del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, alcalde de Curridabat, presidente del Concejo Municipal de Curridabat y directora a.i. del Área Rectora de Salud de Curridabat, o a quienes ejerzan esos cargos, plazo hasta el 8 de mayo de 2024, únicamente para solucionar el problema de desabastecimiento de agua en el proyecto urbanístico Miravalles I, de acuerdo con los términos ordenados en la sentencia n.° 2019-012231 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2019.
En todo lo demás, no ha lugar a las gestiones formuladas. Notifíquese esta resolución a Jimmy Cruz Jiménez y Melissa Arguedas Arce por su orden alcalde de Curridabat y directora a.i del Área Rectora de Salud de Curridabat, o a quienes ejerzan tales cargos, en forma personal".
En la especie, una lectura del extenso memorial de interposición permite establecer, claramente, que el recurrente se apersona ante la Sala para acusar, en el fondo, el incumplimiento de lo ordenado en la sentencia N° 2019-012231 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2019, recaída en el amparo tramitado bajo el expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, en conjunto con lo dispuesto en los fallos Nº 2020020111 de las 09:40 horas del 20 de octubre de 2020 y, especialmente, el N° 2021015951 de las 09:20 horas del 16 de julio de 2021, que resolvieron gestiones de incumplimiento en ese mismo expediente. Esto queda más que evidenciado, porque en su petitoria solicita expresamente lo siguiente:
"PETITORIA 1- Solicito se declare con lugar el RECURSO DE AMPARO en todos sus extremos.
Lo anterior, en vista que por medio de este último oficio los funcionarios públicos condenados por la Sala Constitucional en la resolución de marras, reconocen públicamente NO haber cumplido con lo dictado por la sentencia, así las cosas, se procede a solicitar se consigne el incumplimiento de dicha sentencia con la correspondiente ejecución del proceso penal establecido en la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional.
2- Solicito que ya no se les brinde ningún plazo adicional a estos funcionarios ya que como se ha visto reiteradamente, los plazos otorgados por la Sala Constitucional no son utilizados para cumplir la sentencia sino más bien, para darle largas innecesarias al asunto con el consecuente daño a la ciudadanía.
3- Se condene a la parte demandada al pago de los daños y perjuicios ocasionados".
Notese que, aunque el reclamante alega violado el artículo 27 constitucional, no solamente no identifica cabalmente en su escrito alguna petición concreta que no haya sido respondida por las Autoridades recurridas, sino que tampoco solicita entre sus pretensiones que se le dé contestación a alguna gestión suya, siendo que la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional parte del principio dispositivo (artículo 8º), según el cual este Tribunal no interviene oficiosamente, sino a petición de parte (véase las sentencias N° 2004-10021 de las 08:47 horas del 10 de setiembre de 2004, N° 017810-2006 de las 15:32 horas del 12 de diciembre de 2006, Nº 2007-001147 de las 14:31 horas del 31 de enero de 2007, 2007-001610 de las 09:22 horas del 9 de febrero de 2007, N° 2007-001701 de las 14:34 horas del 13 de febrero de 2007, N° 2007-003233 de las 11:35 horas del 9 de marzo de 2007 y N° 2007-003266 de las 12:08 horas del 9 de marzo de 2007).
En estas condiciones, además, no resultaría procedente pronunciarse, por medio de un nuevo recurso de amparo, sobre el alegado incumplimiento de los fallos antes indicados. Más bien, el reclamo del recurrente debe ser conocido y resuelto en el propio expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, por lo que corresponde desglosar el escrito recibido a las 21:21 horas del 14 de agosto de 2023 y los informes rendidos por las Autoridades recurridas, en conjunto con toda la prueba que los acompaña, y previa certificación que deberá dejarse en autos, agregarlos al expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, para que allí se resuelva lo que en derecho proceda.
Se previene a las partes que, de haber aportado algún documento en papel, así como objetos o pruebas contenidas en algún dispositivo adicional de carácter electrónico, informático, magnético, óptico, telemático o producido por nuevas tecnologías, éstos deberán ser retirados del despacho en un plazo máximo de 30 días hábiles contados a partir de la notificación de esta sentencia. De lo contrario, será destruido todo aquel material que no sea retirado dentro de este plazo, según lo dispuesto en el "Reglamento sobre Expediente Electrónico ante el Poder Judicial", aprobado por la Corte Plena en sesión N° 27-11 del 22 de agosto del 2011, artículo XXVI y publicado en el Boletín Judicial número 19 del 26 de enero del 2012, así como en el acuerdo aprobado por el Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, en la sesión N° 43-12 celebrada el 3 de mayo del 2012, artículo LXXXI.
Por tanto:
Desglósense el escrito recibido a las 21:21 horas del 14 de agosto de 2023 y los informes rendidos por las Autoridades recurridas, en conjunto con toda la prueba que los acompaña, y previa certificación que deberá dejarse en autos, agréguense al expediente N° 19-003040-0007-CO, donde se resolverá lo que corresponda. Archívese este recurso de amparo.
Nombre137 V.
Nombre152 C.
Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
Jorge Araya G.
Anamari Garro V.
Ingrid Hess H.
Document not found. Documento no encontrado.