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Res. 17061-2025 Sala Constitucional · Sala Constitucional · 06/06/2025
OutcomeResultado
The Chamber upholds the disobedience claim and reiterates the order for immediate compliance with ruling 2024018803, warning of potential criminal and administrative liability.La Sala acoge la gestión de desobediencia y reitera la orden de cumplimiento inmediato del voto 2024018803, bajo apercibimiento de responsabilidad penal y administrativa.
SummaryResumen
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a disobedience claim filed by an active coadjuvant against the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Alajuela, and the Environmental Administrative Tribunal (TAA). The claimant argues that ruling No. 2024018803 of July 5, 2024, has not been complied with. That ruling ordered the authorities to resolve, within three months, the environmental pollution caused by an illegal solid waste dump, burning, and encroachment on the Río Segundo protection zone, and directed TAA to issue a final decision within two months. The Chamber finds that the deadlines have been significantly exceeded and the environmental harm persists. TAA has been unable to notify all accused parties or hold the oral hearing, so no final resolution has been issued. The Ministry of Health confirmed non-compliance with its sanitary order. The Municipality of Alajuela failed to submit a report. The Chamber upholds the disobedience claim, reiterates the compliance order, and warns that failure to comply may lead to an administrative procedure for disobedience and referral of the case to the Public Prosecutor for potential criminal charges.La Sala Constitucional conoce una gestión de desobediencia presentada por un coadyuvante activo contra el Ministerio de Salud, la Municipalidad de Alajuela y el Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo (TAA). Se alega que no se ha cumplido la sentencia No. 2024018803 del 5 de julio de 2024, que ordenó resolver en tres meses el problema de contaminación ambiental por depósito ilegal de residuos sólidos, quema y afectación de la zona de protección del río Segundo, y al TAA emitir resolución final en dos meses. La Sala verifica que los plazos se han superado ampliamente y que persisten las afectaciones ambientales. El TAA no ha podido notificar a todos los denunciados ni realizar la audiencia oral, por lo que no hay resolución final. El Ministerio de Salud constató incumplimiento de la orden sanitaria. La Municipalidad de Alajuela no rindió informe. La Sala acoge la gestión y reitera la orden de cumplimiento, bajo apercibimiento de abrir procedimiento administrativo por desobediencia y testimoniar piezas al Ministerio Público por posible comisión del delito.
Key excerptExtracto clave
In view of the foregoing, it is clear to this Constitutional Chamber that, to date, after the established deadlines have been amply exceeded, the provisions of ruling No. 2024018803 have not been complied with. Consequently, the respondent authorities are hereby ordered again to comply with the provisions of ruling No. 2024018803 of July 5, 2024. The disobedience claim is upheld. Víctor González Jiménez, Director of the Health Area of Alajuela 2 of the Ministry of Health; Maureen Solís Retana, Presiding Judge of the Environmental Administrative Tribunal; Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy; as well as Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, Mayor, Karen Bermúdez Fallas, Coordinator of Environmental Management Activity, and Yamileth Oses Villalobos, Coordinator of Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Activity, all of the Municipality of Alajuela, or whoever holds the respective positions, are ordered again to comply with the provisions of ruling No. 2024018803... under the warning that, if disobedience is proven, an administrative procedure may be opened against the public official who fails to comply, and the case may be referred to the Public Prosecutor for the possible crime of disobedience (Articles 53 and 71 of the Constitutional Jurisdiction Law).Visto lo anterior, resulta claro para esta Sala Constitucional que, a la fecha, luego de superados sobradamente los plazos establecidos, lo dispuesto en el voto No. 2024018803 no ha sido cumplido. En consecuencia, se procede a reiterar a las autoridades recurridas dar cumplimiento de lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2024. Se acoge la gestión de desobediencia. Se reitera a Víctor González Jiménez, en su condición de Director del Área Rectora de Salud Alajuela 2 del Ministerio de Salud, a Maureen Solís Retana, en su condición de Jueza Presidenta del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo, a Franz Tattenbach Capra, en su condición de Ministro de Ambiente y Energía, así como a Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, en su condición de Alcalde, a Karen Bermúdez Fallas, en su condición de Coordinadora de la Actividad de Gestión Ambiental y a Yamileth Oses Villalobos, en su condición de Coordinadora de Actividad Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos, todos de la Municipalidad de Alajuela, o a quienes ocupen los cargos, que procedan a dar cumplimiento a lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803... bajo la advertencia que, de acreditarse la desobediencia, se podrá ordenar la apertura de un procedimiento administrativo contra el funcionario remiso a cumplir con lo resuelto por esta Sala y, además, ordenar testimoniar piezas ante el Ministerio Público por la eventual comisión del delito de desobediencia (artículos 53 y 71 de la ley de la jurisdicción constitucional).
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"Se acoge la gestión de desobediencia. Se reitera a las autoridades recurridas que procedan a dar cumplimiento a lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803... bajo la advertencia que, de acreditarse la desobediencia, se podrá ordenar la apertura de un procedimiento administrativo contra el funcionario remiso a cumplir y, además, ordenar testimoniar piezas ante el Ministerio Público por la eventual comisión del delito de desobediencia."
"The disobedience claim is upheld. The respondent authorities are ordered again to comply with the provisions of ruling No. 2024018803... under the warning that, if disobedience is proven, an administrative procedure may be opened against the official who fails to comply, and the case may be referred to the Public Prosecutor for the possible crime of disobedience."
Por tanto
"Se acoge la gestión de desobediencia. Se reitera a las autoridades recurridas que procedan a dar cumplimiento a lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803... bajo la advertencia que, de acreditarse la desobediencia, se podrá ordenar la apertura de un procedimiento administrativo contra el funcionario remiso a cumplir y, además, ordenar testimoniar piezas ante el Ministerio Público por la eventual comisión del delito de desobediencia."
Por tanto
"Visto lo anterior, resulta claro para esta Sala Constitucional que, a la fecha, luego de superados sobradamente los plazos establecidos, lo dispuesto en el voto No. 2024018803 no ha sido cumplido."
"In view of the foregoing, it is clear to this Constitutional Chamber that, to date, after the established deadlines have been amply exceeded, the provisions of ruling No. 2024018803 have not been complied with."
Considerando II
"Visto lo anterior, resulta claro para esta Sala Constitucional que, a la fecha, luego de superados sobradamente los plazos establecidos, lo dispuesto en el voto No. 2024018803 no ha sido cumplido."
Considerando II
"no ha sido posible notificar a todas las partes a efectos de no causar indefensión a las partes de conformidad a lo establecido en el artículo 41 de la Constitución Política."
"it has not been possible to notify all the parties in order to avoid leaving them defenseless, in accordance with Article 41 of the Political Constitution."
Informe TAA
"no ha sido posible notificar a todas las partes a efectos de no causar indefensión a las partes de conformidad a lo establecido en el artículo 41 de la Constitución Política."
Informe TAA
Full documentDocumento completo
Court Size Constitutional Chamber Date of Resolution: June 6, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.
Case File: 24-010364-0007-CO Type of matter: Amparo appeal CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE. San José, at ten hours fifteen minutes on June sixth, two thousand twenty-five.
Disobedience proceeding brought by ADOLFO FERNÁNDEZ LOAIZA, against THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, THE MUNICIPALITY OF ALAJUELA, THE ADMINISTRATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TRIBUNAL, AND THE BENEMÉRITO CUERPO DE BOMBEROS DE COSTA RICA.
Whereas:
MA-SGA-336-2021 dated May 14, 2021, from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, Official Letter No. MA-SGA-378-2021 dated June 1, 2021, from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, Official Letter No. MA-SGA-406-2021 dated June 10, 2021, from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, Official Letter No. MA-SGA-412-2021 dated June 14, 2021, from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, Official Letter No. MA-SGA-558-2021 dated August 20, 2021, from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, Official Letter MA-PCFU-1592-2021 dated September 22, 2021, from the Fiscal and Urban Control division of the Municipality of Alajuela, and Official Letter ASOC.ADM-026-2023 dated December 18, 2023, from the Asociación Nacional de Organizaciones Agropecuarias. 2.
That, as visible on folios 104 to 108 of the administrative file, Official Letter TAADT-037-2024 dated February 6, 2024, signed by M.Sc. Gabriela Nájera Ocampo, in her capacity as an official of the Technical Subprocess of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal, is on record, by which she performs the technical analysis of the complaint. 3. That by resolution No. 214-2024-TAA at nine forty-five hours on February 29, 2024, it was agreed to conduct an on-site ocular inspection ("in situ") on April 10, 2024, jointly with officials from the Tribunal's Technical Department, for which the following persons are summoned as deemed necessary: 1-) Mrs. Karen Bermúdez Fallas, Coordinator of the Environmental Management Process of the Municipality of Alajuela, or the person designated by her to attend said proceeding, in her capacity as complainant, 2-) Mr. Minor González Guzmán, in his capacity as Head of the Alajuela Office of the Central Conservation Area of SINAC, or the person designated for said proceeding, and 3-) Mr.
Ronald Enrique Mora Castro, in his capacity as Director of the Health Governing Area of Alajuela 2, Ministry of Health, or the person designated for said proceeding. 4. That, as visible at folios 117 to 123 of the administrative file, Official Letter TAADT-108-204 dated April 11, 2024, from the Technical Department of the Administrative Tribunal, is on record, corresponding to the inspection report conducted at the site of the reported facts. 5. That on April 18, 2024, official letter MS-DRRSCN-DARSA2-0780-2024 dated April 12, 2024, was received from the Directorate of the Health Governing Area of Alajuela 2 of the Ministry of Health, signed by Eng. Ivan Gerardo Arias Chavarría, corresponding to the Inspection Report conducted on April 10, 2024. See folios 124 to 126 of the administrative file. 6. That on April 19, 2024, official letter No. MA-SGA-246-2024 dated April 19, 2024, was received from the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela, by which they send the Inspection Report of the proceeding carried out jointly with the representatives of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal and the Ministry of Health.
See folios 127 to 133 of the administrative file. 7. That by resolution No. 482-2024-TAA at seven hours on April 30, 2024, it was agreed "(...) Given the environmental complaint filed through Official Letter No. MA-SGA.914-2023 dated December 21, 2023, from the Environmental Management Department of the Municipality of Alajuela, signed by Mrs. Karen Bermúdez Fallas in her capacity as Coordinator, by which she files a formal environmental complaint for the alleged impact resulting from the deposit of waste as well as the impact on the protection area of Río Segundo, as well as what is indicated in official letter TAA-DT-108-2024 of April 11, 2024, from the Technical Department of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal signed by M.Sc Gabriela Nájera Ocampo by which she indicates "(...) Request SINAC to assess the site for the possible impact on the protection area of Río Segundo (…)," it is necessary to request Mr.
Minor González Guzmán, in his capacity as Head of the Alajuela Office of the Central Conservation Area of SINAC, or whoever holds his position, to indicate to this Tribunal whether there is an impact on the protection area and, if so, to send the Economic Valuation of Environmental Damage (Valoración Económica de Daño Ambiental) as well as the applicable mitigation measures for the case (…)”. See folios 138 and 139 of the administrative file. 8. That by resolution No. 646-2024-TAA at twelve forty-five hours on June 7, 2024, it was agreed to request for a second time from Mr. Minor González Guzmán, in his capacity as Head of the Alajuela Office of the Central Conservation Area of SINAC, or whoever holds his position, to indicate to this Tribunal whether there is an impact on the protection area and, if so, to send the Economic Valuation of Environmental Damage (Valoración Económica de Daño Ambiental) as well as the applicable mitigation measures for the case.
See folios 150 and 151 of the administrative file. 9. That on June 21, 2024, Official Letter SINAC-ACC-OA-of-0788-2024 dated June 21, 2024, was received from the Alajuela Office of the Central Conservation Area, by which they refer to the requested Economic Valuation of Environmental Damage (Valoración Económica de Daño Ambiental). See folios 168 to 173 of the administrative file. 10. That by Resolution No. 806-2024-TAA at nine twenty-five hours on July 2, 2024, the order to open the ordinary administrative proceeding was issued in the following terms: "(...) The opening of a formal ordinary administrative proceeding is declared and the owners of the property registered under real folio registration No. 2-41163, cadastral map , are charged, who are: 1-) Nombre01, holder of identity card number CED09, in her capacity as owner of rights 003, 006, 2-) Nombre03, holder of identity card CED10, in his capacity as owner of rights 004, 007, 036, 3-) Nombre04, holder of identity card CED11, in her capacity as owner of rights 010, 039, 4-) Josefa Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number CED12, in her capacity as owner of right ED36, 5-) Nombre02, holder of identity card number CED13, in her capacity as owner of right ED37, 6-) María de las Mercedes Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number 2-CED14, in her capacity as owner of right ED38, 7-) María del Carmen Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number 2-CED15, in her capacity as owner of right ED39, 8-) Vitalia Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number 2-ED40--0067, in her capacity as owner of right 017, 9-) Nombre05, holder of identity card number 2-CED16, in her capacity as owner of right ED41, 10-) Nombre01, holder of identity card number 2-CED17, in his capacity as owner of rights 019, 033, 024 and 035, 11-) Fernando Gerardo Fuentes Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED18, in his capacity as owner of right ED42, 12-) Yadira María Fuentes Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED19, in her capacity as owner of right ED43, 13-) Génesis Paola Jiménez Soto, holder of identity card number 1-CED20, in her capacity as owner of rights 024, 029, 030, 14-) Thaymi María Jiménez Soto, holder of identity card number 1-CED21, in her capacity as owner of rights 025, 028 and 031, 15-) Paris Jazmine Jiménez Soto, holder of identity card number 1-CED22, in her capacity as owner of rights 026, 027 and 032, 16-) Luz María Vega Hernández, holder of identity card number 2-CED23, in her capacity as owner of right ED44, 17-) Mario Antonio Jiménez Vega, holder of identity card number 2-CED24, in his capacity as owner of right 040, 18-) Francisco Jiménez Vargas, holder of identity card number 2-CED25, in his capacity as owner of right ED45, 19-) Marco Vinicio Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number 2-CED26, in his capacity as owner of right ED46, 20-) María Isabel Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number 2-CED27, in her capacity as owner of right ED47, 21-) Kevin Ernesto Delgado Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED28, in his capacity as owner of right ED48, 22-) Katherine Dayana Chaves Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED29, in her capacity as owner of right ED49, 23-) Keylor Esteban Gutiérrez Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED30, in his capacity as owner of right ED50 and 24-) Lizanias Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number 2-CED31, in her capacity as owner of right ED51, as well as the owners of the Property Registered under real folio registration 2-381576, Cadastral Map A-0838188-2003 in the name of: 25-) Carlos Luis Rodríguez Madrigal, holder of identity card number 4-CED32, in his capacity as owner of rights 001, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008 and 26-) Claudio Vásquez Córdoba, holder of identity card number 2-CED33, in his capacity as owner of right ED52, by virtue of the complaint filed by Mrs.
Karen Bermúdez Fallas, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Environmental Management Subprocess of the Municipality of Alajuela. A hearing is scheduled for an ORAL AND PUBLIC HEARING at the headquarters of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal at 08 HOURS 30 MINUTES ON NOVEMBER 15, 2024. (...) The alleged facts charged by this resolution occurred in the Province of Alajuela, Alajuela Canton, San Rafael District, adjacent to the San Rafael Cemetery, coordinates N 1103496.6221 E 476489.8915, and consist of having carried out and/or not having prevented: On the property registered under real folio registration No. , cadastral map , the following: 1-) Environmental impact resulting from the filling (relleno) and reception of solid waste such as debris (escombros), wood remains, and others, which are accumulated on the property. 2-) Environmental and public health impact from the burning of solid waste such as: debris remains, branches, tree trunks, steel drums (estañones), and metal containers without knowing their origin or their contents, which generate smoke and soot.
On the Property Registered under real folio registration , Cadastral Map , the following: 1-) Accumulation of solid waste and its burning, among which branches, trunks, steel drums (estañones), and other waste materials were evident; a container with cable remains was found, as well as the structure and body of an abandoned vehicle. 2-) Infrastructure in the protection area (área de protección) of Río Segundo, which consists of four cubicles or bathroom-type spaces built with Zinc, Gypsum (Gypson), Perling materials, aluminum doors with ceramic slab flooring; said construction is entirely within the protection area for a total of 19.32 square meters and is located 1.75 meters from the body of water. 3-) Construction of a rustic ranch (rancho rústico) at a distance of 5.1 meters from the body of water, occupying 35 square meters of the protection area, which is built of plastic tarpaulin (lona de plástico), saran (sarán), wood, and bamboo.
11. That on October 1, 2024, an email was received from Mr. Mario Jiménez Vega, by which he files an appeal for revocation (recurso de revocatoria) of the resolution opening the proceeding and requests that some photographs be incorporated into the file. See folios 369 to 381 of the administrative file. 12. That by resolution No. 1195-2024-TAA at ten hours five minutes on October 24, 2024, it was agreed: SOLE: That since to date, and as indicated in the Notification forms visible at folios 399 to 406 of the administrative file, it has not been possible to notify Mrs. María del Carmen Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card CED01, Mr. Claudio Vázquez Córdoba, holder of identity card number CED02, Mrs. Katherine Dayana Chaves Jiménez, holder of identity card CED03, Mrs. María Isabel Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number CED04, Mrs. María de las Mercedes Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number CED05, Mr.
Marco Vinicio Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number CED06, Mr. Keylor Esteban Gutiérrez Jiménez, holder of identity card number CED07, and Mr. Kevin Ernesto Delgado Jiménez, holder of identity card number CED08, in order not to cause defenselessness (indefensión) to the parties in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 of the Political Constitution, this Tribunal deems it pertinent to suspend the hearing scheduled for November 15, 2024, at 8:30 hours and reschedule the proceeding for February 18, 2025, at 8:30 hours at the headquarters of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal. See folios 407 to 410 of the administrative file. 13. That on November 7, 2024, a written submission was received from Mrs. Génesis Paola Jiménez Soto, Thaymi María Jiménez Soto, and París Jazmine Jiménez Soto, by which they reject the facts charged in the resolution opening the ordinary administrative proceeding.
See folios 446 to 454 of the administrative file. 14. That by resolution No. 1296-2024-TAA at eleven hours five minutes on November 12, 2024, it is agreed that in accordance with the General Law of the Public Administration which states, "Article 275.- Any person who has a legitimate interest or subjective right that may be affected, harmed, or satisfied wholly or partially by the final act may be a party in the administrative proceeding, in addition to the Administration. The interest of the party must be legitimate and may be moral, scientific, religious, economic, or of any other nature," and the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic states in C-035-2011 dated February 22, 2011, "(...) We must warn that with the reform introduced by Article 200.9 of Law No. 8508 (Contentious-Administrative Procedural Code) to numeral 275 of the General Law of the Public Administration (LGAP), a substantial change operated regarding the concept of party in the administrative proceeding, since now in the protection of subjective positions, the condition of involved party is not exclusive to the holder of a typical or perfect subjective right, as said condition extends furthermore even to the holders of legally relevant interests (…)", and given that Article 282 of the same legal body indicates "(...) 1.
The capacity of the administered party to be a party and to act within the administrative proceeding shall be governed by common law; that of the Administration in accordance with the rules of public law (…)", therefore, having analyzed the email sent to this Tribunal on October 1, 2024, by Mr. Mario Jiménez Vega, by which he files an appeal for revocation (recurso de revocatoria) against resolution No. 806-2024-TAA, prior to hearing the same, Mr. Nombre01 must be PREVENTIVELY ORDERED (PREVENIR) to prove his legal standing (legitimación) and to provide a duly signed document, either with a digital signature or attach a copy of his identity card. The foregoing within a period of three business days counted from the business day following the notification of this resolution. See folios 455 and 456 of the administrative file. 15. That on November 14, 2024, a written submission was received from Mrs.
Vitalia Jiménez Ávila, Adilia Josefa Jiménez Ávila, and Yadira Fuentes Jiménez, by which they reject what is established in the resolution opening the ordinary administrative proceeding and request that the complaint be dismissed and archived. See folios 461 to 477 of the administrative file. 16. That by resolution No. 136-2025-TAA at eleven thirty-five hours on February 13, two thousand twenty-five, it was agreed: FIRST: THAT THROUGH THE WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF MR. MARIO JIMÉNEZ VEGA, AN APPEAL FOR REVOCATION (RECURSO DE REVOCATORIA) IS FILED AGAINST RESOLUTION NO. 806-2024-TAA: That through this resolution No. 1296-2024-TAA at eleven hours five minutes on November 12, 2024, Mr. Nombre01 was preventively ordered (previno) to prove his legal standing (legitimación) and that he must provide a duly signed document, either with a digital signature or attach a copy of his identity card, a resolution that was notified to him on November 13, 2024, as recorded in the notification form visible at folio 459 of the administrative file, without the requested documentation having been submitted to date, for which reason said document is not heard, but it is kept incorporated in the administrative file as evidence to be evaluated at the oral and public hearing.
SECOND: WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF MRS. GÉNESIS PAOLA JIMÉNEZ SOTO, THAYMI MARÍA JIMÉNEZ SOTO, AND PARÍS JAZMÍN JIMENEZ SOTO: That in this resolution, it is appropriate to respond to the written submission presented by the aforementioned ladies on November 7, 2024, by which they reject the facts charged in resolution No. 806-2024-TAA opening the ordinary administrative proceeding, and therefore, having analyzed the same, it is determined that their legal standing (legitimación) under administrative file number 008-024-02-TAA is accredited. In said document, the position of the subscribers is established in relation to the transferred facts, explaining from the point titled "first to ninth" their defense arguments and providing evidence to prove what is stated; however, from the analysis of the same, it can be determined that the facts to which they refer are substantive aspects that must be resolved through a final resolution, and therefore, the indicated statements are deemed incorporated, which will be analyzed at the opportune procedural moment.
THIRD: WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF MRS. VITALIA JIMÉNEZ ÁVILA, ADILIA JOSEFA JIMÉNEZ ÁVILA, AND YADIRA FUENTES JIMENEZ: That in this resolution, it is appropriate to respond to the written submission presented by the aforementioned ladies on November 14, 2024, by which they reject the facts charged in resolution No. 806-2024-TAA opening the ordinary administrative proceeding, and request that these be resolved in court, and therefore, having analyzed the same, it is determined that their legal standing (legitimación) under administrative file number 008-024-02-TAA is accredited. In said document, the position of the subscribers is established, and a copy of judicial file No. 19-000024-1626-CI is provided; however, having analyzed the arguments presented in said writing, it can be determined that the facts to which they refer are substantive aspects that must be resolved through a final resolution, and therefore, the indicated statements are deemed incorporated, which will be analyzed at the opportune procedural moment, and referring to what is indicated therein is reserved for the final resolution on the merits.
FOURTH: That since to date, and as indicated in the Notification forms visible at folios 399 to 406 of the administrative file, it has not been possible to notify Mrs. María del Carmen Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card CED01, Mr. Claudio Vázquez Córdoba, holder of identity card number 2-CED34, Mrs. Katherine Dayana Chaves Jiménez, holder of identity card 2-CED29, Mrs. María Isabel Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number 2-CED27, Mrs. María de las Mercedes Jiménez Ávila, holder of identity card number CED05, Mr. Marco Vinicio Jiménez Salas, holder of identity card number 2-CED35, Mr. Keylor Esteban Gutiérrez Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-CED30, and Mr. Kevin Ernesto Delgado Jiménez, holder of identity card number 2-0675-0675, in order not to cause defenselessness (indefensión) to the parties in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 of the Political Constitution, this Tribunal deems it pertinent to suspend the hearing scheduled for February 18, 2025, at 8:30 hours and reschedule the proceeding for June 17, 2025, at 8:30 hours at the headquarters of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal.
See folios 483 to 492 of the administrative file. 17. That on February 19, 2025, a written submission was received from Mr. Carlos Luis Rodríguez Madrigal, by which he presents a document requesting that this Tribunal verify that there is no longer any infrastructure built within the protection area (área de protección) of Río Segundo. See folios 533 and 534 of the administrative file. 18. That by resolution No. 434-2025-TAA at eleven forty-five hours on May 6, two thousand twenty-five, it was agreed: FIRST: THAT THROUGH THE WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF MR. CARLOS LUIS RODRÍGUEZ MADRIGAL, it is established "(...) I consider that the undersigned is in a proceeding without being deserving of the reported facts, as what was built by me was detected by chance during an inspection carried out for other reasons, since I do not receive or stockpile materials, much less conduct burning at the site, all because I use said land as a kind of campsite for barbecuing on weekends, away from the hustle and bustle, and to find a little peace after many years of work.
Given that my involvement in this complex matter goes only so far, I request to conciliate if possible in order to be excluded from the same for the reasons explained, and to demonstrate that what was built within the protection area of the river no longer exists. (…)", this Tribunal considers that what is indicated here must be analyzed at the oral and public hearing since it is part of what is charged here, and therefore, being a matter of substance, the request made by Mr. Rodríguez Madrigal to be excluded from the present proceeding must be rejected; it is important to mention that the documents provided are accepted as offered exculpatory evidence (prueba de descargo) and will be evaluated at the opportune procedural moment. SECOND: That since to date, it has not been possible to notify all the parties, in order not to cause defenselessness (indefensión) to the parties in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 of the Political Constitution, this Tribunal deems it pertinent to suspend the hearing scheduled for June 17, 2025, at 8:30 hours and reschedule the proceeding for September 1, 2025, at 8:30 hours, at the headquarters of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal.
Therefore, the Administrative Environmental Tribunal carries out the corresponding actions to achieve notification of the opening of the ordinary administrative proceeding to all parties in order not to cause defenselessness (indefensión) in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 of the Political Constitution and to be able to hold the oral and public hearing set forth in resolution No. 434-2025-TAA at eleven forty-five hours on May 6, two thousand twenty-five."
Magistrate Araya García writes; and,
Considering:
I.Regarding the order of this Chamber. Through judgment No. 2024018803 at 9:30 hours on July 5, 2024, this Tribunal ordered the following:
"POR TANTO:
The appeal is partially granted, solely regarding the grievances filed against the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Alajuela, and the Administrative Environmental Tribunal. Consequently, Ronald Enrique Mora Solano, in his capacity as Director of the Health Governing Area of Alajuela 2 of the Ministry of Health; Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, in his capacity as Mayor, Karen Bermúdez Fallas, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Environmental Management Activity, and Yamileth Oses Villalobos, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Activity, all of the Municipality of Alajuela, as well as Adriana Bejarano Alfaro, in her capacity as Presiding Judge of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal, or whoever respectively holds said positions, are ordered to, immediately upon notification of this judgment, coordinate what is necessary, issue the pertinent orders, and carry out all actions within the scope of their competencies, to ensure that the environmental problem proven in this amparo proceeding is resolved definitively, within a maximum period of three months (counted also from the notification of this judgment).
Likewise, the aforementioned Presiding Judge of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal is ordered to, once said body is duly constituted, issue, within a maximum period of two months, the final resolution of the proceeding processed under file No. Telf01 and notify the interested parties. The respondent authorities are warned that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 71 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, imprisonment of three months to two years, or a fine of twenty to sixty days, shall be imposed on anyone who receives an order that they must comply with or enforce, issued within an amparo proceeding, and does not comply with it or does not enforce it, provided that the crime is not more severely punished. The State and the Municipality of Alajuela are condemned to pay the costs, damages, and losses caused by the facts serving as the basis for this declaration, which shall be settled in the execution of the contentious-administrative judgment.
Regarding the allegations made against the Costa Rica Fire Department (Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica), the amparo is declared without merit. Let the Minister of Environment and Energy take note of what is ordered in considering VII of this judgment. Magistrate Castillo Víquez adds a note." The previous judgment was notified to the respondent authorities on July 9, 2024.
II.Regarding the claim of disobedience filed. Mr. Adolfo Fernández Loaiza, in his capacity as active coadjuvant, argues that the respondent parties have not complied with what was ordered in judgment No. 2024018803 at 9:30 hours on July 5, 2024, given that "(...) the environmental contamination problem from the illegal deposit of solid waste, or clandestine dump, burning, and the danger to the protection zone (zona de protección) of Río Segundo, continue to this day (…)". He claims that this demonstrates that the respondent authorities have not taken all the actions under their responsibility to correct the aforementioned problem, as ordered in said judgment.
By virtue of the foregoing, a report was requested from the respondent parties.
The President of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal, in her report, referred to various proceedings carried out by virtue of the complaint they are hearing and which is processed in file No. 008-24-02-TAA, and clarified that it has not been possible, to date, to notify all the defendants of the opening of the ordinary administrative proceeding, in order to, in turn, hold the oral and public hearing. She also maintained that, by virtue of that situation, the hearing originally scheduled for June 17, 2025, was rescheduled for September 1, 2025. Therefore, it is clear that a final resolution in said proceeding could not have been issued.
For his part, the Director of the Health Governing Area of Alajuela 2 of the Ministry of Health also reported on the actions they have taken to address the order issued by the Chamber. However, it was also indicated that, in an inspection recently conducted (May 7, 2025), non-compliance with the provisions of sanitary order No. MS-DRRSCN-DARSA2-OS-090-2024 was evident, which was issued so that the burning of waste at the site would be suspended and the depositing of waste would cease.
Finally, the respondent authorities of the Municipality of Alajuela did not render the required report, and therefore, in accordance with the provisions of numeral 45 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, the facts attributed to them are taken as true.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear to this Constitutional Chamber that, to date, long after the established deadlines have been exceeded, the provisions of vote No. 2024018803 have not been complied with. Consequently, the respondent authorities are hereby reiterated to comply with the provisions of this Chamber in judgment No. 2024018803 at 9:30 hours on July 5, 2024.
III.Documentation provided to the file. The parties are advised that if any documents on paper, as well as objects or evidence contained in any additional electronic, computer, magnetic, optical, telematic device, or one produced by new technologies have been provided, these must be removed 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, in accordance with the provisions of the "Reglamento sobre Expediente Electrónico ante el Poder Judicial", approved by the Full Court in session No.
27-11 of August 22, 2011, article XXVI and published in Judicial Bulletin No. 19 of January 26, 2012, as well as in the agreement approved by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, in session No. 43-12 held on May 3, 2012, article LXXXI.
Therefore:
The claim of disobedience is granted. Víctor González Jiménez, in his capacity as Director of the Alajuela 2 Health Governing Area of the Ministry of Health, Maureen Solís Retana, in her capacity as Presiding Judge of the Administrative Environmental Tribunal, Franz Tattenbach Capra, in his capacity as Minister of Environment and Energy, as well as Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, in his capacity as Mayor, Karen Bermúdez Fallas, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Environmental Management Activity, and Yamileth Oses Villalobos, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Activity, all of the Municipality of Alajuela, or whoever holds those positions, are reiterated to proceed to comply with the provisions of this Chamber in judgment No. 2024018803 of 9:30 a.m. on July 5, 2024. The foregoing, under the warning that, if disobedience is proven, the opening of an administrative procedure against the official remiss in complying with the resolution of this Chamber may be ordered, and furthermore, to order pieces to be certified to the Public Prosecutor's Office for the possible commission of the crime of disobedience (articles 53 and 71 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction). Notify.- Fernando Cruz C.
Acting President Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
Jorge Araya G.
Ingrid Hess H.
Ronald Salazar Murillo Alejandro Delgado F.
CASE FILE N° 24-010364-0007-CO Telephones: Telf02/ ALA-4TA (Telf03). Fax: Telf04 / Telf05. Electronic address: www.poder-judicial.go.cr/salaconstitucional. Address: (Dirección02, Dirección03, 100 mts. South of the Perpetuo Socorro church).
Is a faithful copy of the original - Taken from Nexus.PJ on: 08-05-2026 10:32:21.
SCIJ of the Treasury SCIJ of the Attorney General's Office of the Republic
SALA CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA. San José, a las diez horas quince minutos del seis de junio de dos mil veinticinco .
Gestión de desobediencia promovida por ADOLFO FERNÁNDEZ LOAIZA, contra EL MINISTERIO DE SALUD, LA MUNICIPALIDAD DE ALAJUELA, EL TRIBUNAL AMBIENTAL ADMINISTRATIVO Y EL BENEMÉRITO CUERPO DE BOMBEROS DE COSTA RICA.
Resultando:
Redacta el Magistrado Araya García; y,
Considerando:
I.Sobre lo dispuesto por esta Sala. Mediante la sentencia No. 2024018803 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2024, este Tribunal dispuso lo siguiente:
“POR TANTO:
Se declara parcialmente con lugar el recurso, únicamente, en cuanto a los agravios formulados en contra del Ministerio de Salud, de la Municipalidad de Alajuela y del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo. En consecuencia, se le ordena a Ronald Enrique Mora Solano, en su condición de Director del Área Rectora de Salud de Alajuela 2 del Ministerio de Salud; a Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, en su condición de Alcalde, a Karen Bermúdez Fallas, en su condición de Coordinadora de la Actividad de Gestión Ambiental y a Yamileth Oses Villalobos, en su condición de Coordinadora de Actividad Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos, todos de la Municipalidad de Alajuela, así como a Adriana Bejarano Alfaro, en su condición de Jueza Presidenta del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo, o a quienes respectivamente ocupen dichos cargos, que, de forma inmediata a la notificación de la presente sentencia, coordinen lo necesario, giren las órdenes pertinentes y lleven a cabo todas las actuaciones que estén dentro del ámbito de sus competencias, en aras de que el problema ambiental acreditado en este proceso de amparo se solvente, de forma definitiva, en el plazo máximo de tres meses (contado también a partir de la notificación de esta sentencia).
Asimismo, se le ordena a la referida Presidenta del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo, que, una vez que dicho órgano se encuentre debidadamente integrado, se emita, dentro del plazo máximo de dos meses, la resolución final del procedimiento tramitado conforme el expediente No. Telf01 y se le notifique a los interesados. Se advierte a las autoridades recurridas que, de conformidad con lo establecido por el artículo 71 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, se impondrá prisión de tres meses a dos años o de veinte a sesenta días multa, a quien recibiere una orden que deba cumplir o hacer cumplir, dictada dentro de un recurso de amparo y no la cumpliere o no la hiciere cumplir, siempre que el delito no esté más gravemente penado. Se condena al Estado y a la Municipalidad de Alajuela, al pago de las costas, daños y perjuicios ocasionados con los hechos que sirven de base a esta declaratoria, los que se liquidarán en ejecución de sentencia de lo contencioso administrativo.
En cuanto a los alegatos formulados en contra del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, se declara sin lugar el amparo. Tome nota el Ministro de Ambiente y Energía de lo dispuesto en el considerando VII de la presente sentencia. El Magistrado Castillo Víquez consigna nota”.
La anterior sentencia le fue notificada a las autoridades recurridas el 9 de julio de 2024.
II.En cuanto a la gestión de desobediencia planteada. El señor Adolfo Fernández Loaiza, en calidad de coadyuvante activo, aduce que las partes recurridas no han cumplido lo ordenado en la sentencia No. 2024018803 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2024, ya que “(…) el problema de contaminación ambiental por depósito ilegal de residuos sólidos, o basurero clandestino, quema y peligro de la zona de protección del río Segundo, continúan hasta el día de hoy (…)”. Acusa que esto demuestra que las autoridades recurridas no han tomado todas las acciones a su cargo para corregir la citada problemática, tal y como se ordenó en dicha sentencia.
En virtud de lo anterior, se solicitó informe a las partes recurridas.
La Presidenta del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativa, en su informe, hizo referencia a varias gestiones realizadas en virtud de la denuncia que conocen y que se tramita en expediente No. 008-24-02-TAA y aclaró que no ha sido posible, a la fecha, notificar de la apertura del procedimiento ordinario administrativo a todos los denunciados, para, a su vez, llevar a cabo la audiencia oral y pública. Asimismo, sostuvo que, en virtud de esa situación, la audiencia que originalmente estaba establecida para el 17 de junio de 2025, fue reprogramada para el 1° de septiembre de 2025. Por ende, es claro que no se ha podido emitir resolución final en dicho procedimiento.
Por su parte, el Director del Área Rectora de Salud Alajuela 2 del Ministerio de Salud, informó también sobre las gestiones que han realizado para atender la orden girada por la Sala. Sin embargo, igualmente se indicó que, en inspección realizada recientemente (7 de mayo de 2025), se logró evidenciar el incumplimiento a lo dispuesto en la orden sanitaria No. MS-DRRSCN-DARSA2-OS-090-2024 girada con el fin que se suspendiera la quema de residuos en el sitio y se dejaran de depositar residuos.
Finalmente, las autoridades recurridas de la Municipalidad de Alajuela no rindieron el informe requerido, por lo que, en atención a lo dispuesto en ordinal 45 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, se tienen por ciertos los hechos que se les endilgan.
Visto lo anterior, resulta claro para esta Sala Constitucional que, a la fecha, luego de superados sobradamente los plazos establecidos, lo dispuesto en el voto No. 2024018803 no ha sido cumplido. En consecuencia, se procede a reiterar a las autoridades recurridas dar cumplimiento de lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2024.
III.Documentación aportada al expediente. 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 No. 27-11 del 22 de agosto de 2011, artículo XXVI y publicado en el Boletín Judicial No. 19 del 26 de enero de 2012, así como en el acuerdo aprobado por el Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, en la sesión No. 43-12 celebrada el 3 de mayo de 2012, artículo LXXXI.
Por tanto:
Se acoge la gestión de desobediencia. Se reitera a Víctor González Jiménez, en su condición de Director del Área Rectora de Salud Alajuela 2 del Ministerio de Salud, a Maureen Solís Retana, en su condición de Jueza Presidenta del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo, a Franz Tattenbach Capra, en su condición de Ministro de Ambiente y Energía, así como a Roberto Hernán Thompson Chacón, en su condición de Alcalde, a Karen Bermúdez Fallas, en su condición de Coordinadora de la Actividad de Gestión Ambiental y a Yamileth Oses Villalobos, en su condición de Coordinadora de Actividad Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos, todos de la Municipalidad de Alajuela, o a quienes ocupen los cargos, que procedan a dar cumplimiento a lo dispuesto por esta Sala en la sentencia No. 2024018803 de las 9:30 horas del 5 de julio de 2024. Lo anterior, bajo la advertencia que, de acreditarse la desobediencia, se podrá ordenar la apertura de un procedimiento administrativo contra el funcionario remiso a cumplir con lo resuelto por esta Sala y, además, ordenar testimoniar piezas ante el Ministerio Público por la eventual comisión del delito de desobediencia (artículos 53 y 71 de la ley de la jurisdicción constitucional). Notifíquese.- Fernando Cruz C.
Presidente a.i Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
Jorge Araya G.
Ingrid Hess H.
Ronald Salazar Murillo Alejandro Delgado F.
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