{
  "id": "nexus-ext-1-0034-128277",
  "citation": "Res. 00564-2009 Sala Segunda de la Corte",
  "section": "nexus_decisions",
  "doc_type": "court_decision",
  "title_es": "Prescripción de la potestad disciplinaria y despido de registrador público",
  "title_en": "Prescription of disciplinary power and dismissal of public registrar",
  "summary_es": "La Sala Segunda resuelve un recurso de casación en un proceso ordinario laboral promovido por un registrador público de bienes inmuebles despedido. El recurrente alegaba prescripción de la potestad disciplinaria y falta de gravedad en su falta. La Sala confirma la decisión del tribunal de instancia, declarando sin lugar el recurso. Sobre la prescripción, señala que el plazo de un mes del artículo 603 del Código de Trabajo inicia cuando el jerarca con potestad sancionatoria conoce el resultado de la investigación, no desde que los hechos fueron conocidos por mandos inferiores. En este caso, el Ministro de Justicia solicitó el despido dentro del mes, por lo que no operó la prescripción. En cuanto a la falta, se acredita que el funcionario autorizó un retiro sin inscribir de una hipoteca a solicitud del deudor, en contravención de normas registrales y notariales, y además lo hizo sobre un documento asignado a otra registradora. La Sala considera que tales hechos constituyen una pérdida de confianza objetiva que justifica el despido, sin que la antigüedad del funcionario lo exima.",
  "summary_en": "The Second Chamber decides an appeal in cassation in an ordinary labor proceeding brought by a dismissed public real property registrar. The appellant argued prescription of disciplinary power and lack of seriousness of the misconduct. The Chamber confirms the lower court's decision, dismissing the appeal. Regarding prescription, it holds that the one‑month period under Article 603 of the Labor Code runs from the time the authority empowered to impose sanctions is notified of the investigation results, not from when lower‑ranking officials learned of the facts. Here, the Minister of Justice requested the dismissal within one month, so prescription did not apply. As for the misconduct, it is proven that the employee authorized the withdrawal without registration of a mortgage at the debtor's request, in violation of registration and notarial rules, and did so on a document assigned to another registrar. The Chamber finds that these actions constitute an objective loss of trust justifying dismissal, and the employee's seniority does not excuse him.",
  "court_or_agency": "Sala Segunda de la Corte",
  "date": "2009",
  "year": "2009",
  "topic_ids": [
    "_off-topic"
  ],
  "primary_topic_id": "_off-topic",
  "es_concept_hints": [
    "prescripción",
    "potestad disciplinaria",
    "retiro sin inscribir",
    "pérdida de confianza",
    "calificación registral",
    "Registro Público",
    "Art. 603 Código de Trabajo"
  ],
  "concept_anchors": [
    {
      "article": "Art. 2",
      "law": "Ley 6739"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 3 inciso b",
      "law": "Ley 6739"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 6",
      "law": "Ley 3883"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 12",
      "law": "Ley 3883"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 9",
      "law": "Decreto Ejecutivo 26771-J"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 33",
      "law": "Decreto Ejecutivo 26771-J"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 34",
      "law": "Decreto Ejecutivo 26771-J"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 41",
      "law": "Decreto Ejecutivo 26771-J"
    }
  ],
  "keywords_es": [
    "prescripción",
    "potestad disciplinaria",
    "despido laboral",
    "registro público",
    "retiro sin inscribir",
    "pérdida de confianza",
    "artículo 603 Código de Trabajo",
    "funcionario público",
    "derecho registral",
    "calificación registral",
    "seguridad registral",
    "procedimiento disciplinario"
  ],
  "keywords_en": [
    "prescription",
    "disciplinary power",
    "labor dismissal",
    "public registry",
    "withdrawal without registration",
    "loss of trust",
    "Article 603 Labor Code",
    "public official",
    "registry law",
    "registry qualification",
    "registry security",
    "disciplinary procedure"
  ],
  "excerpt_es": "En forma reiterada esta Sala ha señalado que en la Administración Pública, o en entidades en que de previo a la imposición de la sanción se exige de un procedimiento para determinar la existencia de los hechos endilgados, ese plazo inicia cuando el jerarca con potestades para disponer la sanción es notificado del resultado de la investigación, que es entonces cuando legalmente tiene conocimiento de la existencia de los hechos, pues antes de ello se encuentra incapacitado de tomar cualquier decisión. (...) Por esa razón, la decisión patronal de despedir al actor, por haber autorizado un documento de tan dudosa legitimidad; que además, no le correspondía autorizar sino a una compañera suya, puede estimarse justificada en tanto no sólo violentó los procedimientos institucionales establecidos para la gestión de los documentos sino que además, su proceder constituye una razón objetiva de pérdida de confianza al haber demostrado un desconocimiento de normas elementales mínimas en el proceder registral, autorizando el retiro sin inscribir solicitado por una persona distinta al titular del derecho.",
  "excerpt_en": "This Chamber has repeatedly held that in Public Administration, or in entities where prior to the imposition of a sanction a procedure is required to determine the existence of the alleged facts, that time limit starts when the official with power to order the sanction is notified of the results of the investigation, which is when he legally becomes aware of the facts, since before that he is unable to make any decision. (...) For that reason, the employer’s decision to dismiss the plaintiff, for having authorized a document of such dubious legitimacy, which moreover fell under the responsibility of a colleague, can be considered justified insofar as he not only violated the established institutional procedures for document processing but also his conduct constitutes an objective ground for loss of trust, having demonstrated ignorance of the most basic minimum rules in registral practice, by authorizing the withdrawal without registration requested by a person other than the right holder.",
  "outcome": {
    "label_en": "Denied",
    "label_es": "Sin lugar",
    "summary_en": "The Chamber upholds the dismissal, finding no prescription of disciplinary power and that the registrar's conduct constituted an objective loss of trust.",
    "summary_es": "La Sala confirma la validez del despido, al no haber operado la prescripción de la potestad disciplinaria y constituir la actuación del registrador una pérdida de confianza objetiva."
  },
  "pull_quotes": [
    {
      "context": "Considerando II",
      "quote_en": "prescription is an extinguishing institute of rights, which penalizes the holder's inactivity in exercising or collecting his right for a certain period.",
      "quote_es": "la prescripción es un instituto extintivo de derechos, que sanciona la inactividad del titular en el ejercicio o el cobro de su derecho durante determinado tiempo."
    },
    {
      "context": "Considerando II",
      "quote_en": "that period begins when the official with power to order the sanction is notified of the results of the investigation, which is when he legally becomes aware of the facts",
      "quote_es": "ese plazo inicia cuando el jerarca con potestades para disponer la sanción es notificado del resultado de la investigación, que es entonces cuando legalmente tiene conocimiento de la existencia de los hechos"
    },
    {
      "context": "Considerando III",
      "quote_en": "the employer's decision to dismiss the plaintiff (...) constitutes an objective ground for loss of trust, having demonstrated ignorance of the most basic minimum rules in registral practice",
      "quote_es": "la decisión patronal de despedir al actor (...) constituye una razón objetiva de pérdida de confianza al haber demostrado un desconocimiento de normas elementales mínimas en el proceder registral"
    }
  ],
  "cites": [],
  "cited_by": [],
  "references": {
    "internal": [
      {
        "target_id": "norm-31552",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Ley 6739  Art. 2"
      },
      {
        "target_id": "norm-38440",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Ley 3883  Art. 6"
      },
      {
        "target_id": "norm-55371",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Decreto Ejecutivo 26771-J  Art. 9"
      }
    ],
    "external": []
  },
  "source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/ext-1-0034-128277",
  "tier": 2,
  "_editorial_citation_count": 0,
  "regulations_by_article": null,
  "amendments_by_article": null,
  "dictamen_by_article": null,
  "concordancias_by_article": null,
  "afectaciones_by_article": null,
  "resoluciones_by_article": null,
  "cited_by_votos": [],
  "cited_norms": [],
  "cited_norms_inverted": [
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-31552",
      "norm_num": "6739",
      "norm_name": "Ley Orgánica del Ministerio de Justicia y Paz",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "28/04/1982"
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-38440",
      "norm_num": "3883",
      "norm_name": "Ley sobre Inscripción de Documentos en el Registro Público",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "30/05/1967"
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-55371",
      "norm_num": "26771",
      "norm_name": "Reglamento del Registro Público",
      "tipo_norma": "Decreto Ejecutivo",
      "norm_fecha": "18/02/1998"
    }
  ],
  "sentencias_relacionadas": [],
  "temas_y_subtemas": [],
  "cascade_only": false,
  "amendment_count": 0,
  "body_es_text": "“II.- PRESCRIPCIÓN DE LA POTESTAD DISCIPLINARIA: No lleva razón el recurrente en señalar una indebida contabilización de los términos de la prescripción establecida en el numeral 603 del Código de Trabajo. Según fue acreditado, el Director General del Registro Público, mediante oficio n°. DGRN-590 de 5 de julio de 2002, informó a la Asesoría Jurídica del Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia, las presuntas anomalías cometidas por el accionante. Este oficio fue recibido por ese otro despacho, el día 8, de ese mismo mes y año. De modo que, al 6 de agosto de 2002, cuando el jerarca del Ministerio de Justicia solicitó la gestión de despido en contra del actor, ante la Dirección General de Servicio Civil, no había transcurrido el plazo perentorio de prescripción dispuesto en la citada norma. Como en forma reiterada ha sido señalado, la prescripción es un instituto extintivo de derechos, que sanciona la inactividad del titular en el ejercicio o el cobro de su derecho durante determinado tiempo. En relación con el ejercicio de la potestad patronal de disciplinar a sus trabajadores/as, implica un abandono o una desidia en el ejercicio de ese derecho durante más de un mes, luego de cometida la falta. Sin embargo, cuando el conocimiento de la falta la tiene el patrono en fecha posterior al efectivo acaecimiento de los hechos, ese plazo comienza a correr a partir de ese conocimiento. En forma reiterada esta Sala ha señalado que en la Administración Pública, o en entidades en que de previo a la imposición de la sanción se exige de un procedimiento para determinar la existencia de los hechos endilgados, ese plazo inicia cuando el jerarca con potestades para disponer la sanción es notificado del resultado de la investigación, que es entonces cuando legalmente tiene conocimiento de la existencia de los hechos, pues antes de ello se encuentra incapacitado de tomar cualquier decisión (en este sentido son ilustrativas las sentencias de esta Sala n°. 713 y 810, de 10:25 horas de 3 de octubre y de 10:20 horas de 31 de octubre, ambas de 2007). Analizadas las diligencias que circundaron la decisión de despido del actor, se evidencia que incluso, desde el momento mismo en que el superior inmediato es puesto en conocimiento de las anomalías apuntadas, hasta la fecha cuando el ministro comunica a la Dirección General de Servicio Civil la intención de despido, no hubo un abandono patronal de su poder disciplinario. Véase que en fecha 18 de junio de 2002 el actor remitió nota al Director del Registro Público de Bienes Inmuebles reportándole el extravío del documento presentado desde el día 12 de junio de 2001, al tomo 491, asiento 10597. De igual forma, con fecha 26 de junio de ese año, el Jefe de Registradores comunicó al citado director, lo acontecido en torno a las vacaciones y la condición como el accionante dejó su trabajo. En relación con la situación suscitada con la licenciada Badilla Villanueva, ella informó lo acontecido al Director del Registro de Bienes Inmuebles, en nota de 3 de julio de 2002 (folio 8 del expediente de gestión de despido). Enterado de esos hechos, el Director del Registro de Bienes Inmuebles los puso en conocimiento del jerarca institucional -Director General del Registro Nacional- el 5 de julio de 2002, quien mediante oficio de esa misma fecha comunicó a la Dirección Jurídica del Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia, las anomalías imputadas al accionante; oficio que fue recibido por esa otra dependencia en fecha 8 de julio de 2002. En forma alguna se evidencia un abandono de parte de la jerarquía institucional en disciplinar la conducta del funcionario. Igualmente oportuna fue la gestión del Ministro del ramo, al diligenciar ante la Dirección de Servicio Civil la gestión de despido en fecha 6 de agosto de ese año, es decir, sin que hubiese transcurrido el término prescriptivo de un mes, contenido en el numeral 603 del Código de Trabajo. No resulta atendible la tesis de que la prescripción operó entre el conocimiento de los hechos por parte del Director del Registro de Bienes Inmuebles y la comunicación a la Dirección del Servicio Civil por cuanto dicho Director no es el jerarca institucional con potestades de definir la aplicación del régimen disciplinario, competencia que por ley es exclusiva del Ministro de Justicia, según lo dispone la Ley Orgánica de ese Ministerio, Ley n°. 6739 de 28 de abril de 1982, en sus artículos 2 y el 3 inciso b). Además, según se mencionó, entre el conocimiento de los hechos que tuvo ese funcionario y la gestión del ministro, ante la Dirección General del Servicio Civil, no hubo un abandono institucional por más de un mes, de las acciones que mantuvieran el interés por ejercer aquella potestad disciplinaria. Por tales razones, la excepción de prescripción se estima correctamente resuelta. III.- GRAVEDAD DE LA FALTA COMETIDA: El recurrente se muestra disconforme porque el tribunal no advirtió la razón notarial constante en el segundo folio del testimonio presentado al Registro Público, en la cual, dice él, se indicaba la comparecencia del acreedor y dueño del documento, solicitando el retiro sin inscribir del documento. Tal argumento, y los otros con los cuales pretende la revocatoria de lo decidido, no son de recibo por las siguientes razones: En primer lugar, debe mencionarse que en la copia del mencionado folio no resulta legible lo que argumenta el recurrente, es decir, con dicho documento no es posible tener por demostrada la supuesta razón notarial argumentada por el funcionario, como justificativa de su actuación. De modo que no es posible atribuirle al tribunal un error de apreciación o de valoración de las probanzas si no se acreditó en forma diáfana, el contenido del documento con el cual pretende justificar su actuación. Es decir, nunca pudo incurrir el tribunal en una indebida valoración del material probatorio, con violación a lo dispuesto por el artículo 493 del Código de Trabajo; ni tampoco en una incorrecta aplicación del numeral 474 del Código Civil o de los artículos del Código Notarial citados en el recurso, porque la copia microfilmada del documento con el cual el actor pretende sustentar su actuación, no es legible; y por lo mismo, el tribunal no puede tener por demostrada la pretendida comparecencia del acreedor hipotecario, titular del derecho cuyo retiro sin inscribir se solicitaba. Por eso, el único dato cierto y demostrado es el mismo que tuvo por acreditado la entidad patronal, es decir, que autorizó un retiro sin inscribir de una hipoteca, con base en un testimonio en el que quien comparece es la parte deudora, esta actuación sí, en abierta contradicción con el numeral del Código Civil citado. El reproche a la antigüedad del funcionario tiene un claro sustento: en la práctica registral es innegable la importancia que tiene la experiencia; la cual, al igual que en el resto de la Administración Pública, se valora como un plus que es remunerado con el reconocimiento de anualidades (Ley de Salarios de la Administración Pública). No es posible que un funcionario con más de dos décadas de laborar en esa institución, haya procedido a autorizar semejante movimiento registral; con evidente desatención a un conocimiento básico que es exigible a un registrador público de bienes inmuebles, como es su caso. A esa circunstancia se suma el hecho de que se trata de la autorización de un retiro sin inscribir, cuya gestión registral no le competía; y esa es otra regulación que el actor no puede negar conocer. Todas las declaraciones testimoniales recavadas dan cuenta que el registrador asignado al ingreso del documento es a quien corresponde la inscripción. Estas manifestaciones son coherentes con las disposiciones legales que regulan la actividad registral, particularmente la Ley sobre inscripción de documentos en el Registro Público n°. 3883, de 30 de mayo de 1967, en disposiciones tales como las contenidas en los artículos 6 y 12; así, como en el Reglamento del Registro Público, decreto ejecutivo n°. 26771-J, de 18 de febrero de 1998, particularmente en su artículos 9, 33, 34 y 41, que dicen: Art. 9: Corresponde a los Registradores la calificación e inscripción de los documentos sometidos a su estudio, lo cual harán por los medios de que dispongan en coordinación con la Dirección, con la obligación de brindar un eficiente servicio. Art. 33. Una vez que se haya cerrado la entrada de documentos del día y se hayan realizado todas las operaciones correspondientes al Diario, se efectuará el reparto de los documentos que se presentaron ese día a los registradores respectivos, el cual se realizará de la manera más justa y equitativa. Art. 34: Control de Legalidad. La función calificadora consiste en realizar un examen previo y la verificación de los títulos que se presentan para su registración, con el objeto de que se registren únicamente los títulos válidos y perfectos, porque los asientos deben ser exactos y concordantes con la realidad jurídica que de ellos se desprende. La calificación de los títulos consiste en el examen, censura, o comprobación que de la legalidad de los títulos presentados debe hacer el Registrador antes de proceder a la inscripción, con la facultad de suspender o denegar los que no se ajustan a las disposiciones de nuestro ordenamiento jurídico. Al momento de calificar, el funcionario asignado al efecto se atendrá tan solo a lo que resulte del título y en general a toda la información que conste en el Registro y sus resoluciones no impedirán ni prejuzgarán sobre la validez de éste, o de la obligación que contenga. Artículo 41.- Corrección de defectos por documento adicional. Si un documento adolece de un defecto subsanable y se corrigiere por medio de uno nuevo, presentado éste al Registro, se entregarán ambos al Registrador respectivo para su inscripción. Si un documento se presenta como adicional de otro y no cumple su objetivo por contener nuevos actos o contratos, el Registrador tramitará lo relacionado a la corrección del documento principal, pero cancelará parcialmente la presentación del documento adicional en cuanto al nuevo acto o contrato. Esta regulación evidencia que en la disposición de los documentos a inscribir existe un riguroso orden de asignación, que debe ser respetado por los registradores, tanto cuando les es asignado el documento para su calificación, como en los ulteriores movimientos registrales, una vez atendidos y subsanados los defectos apuntados. Este principio reviste importancia no sólo como garantía de transparencia y seguridad en la labor registral; sino para el cumplimiento de otras disposiciones relacionadas con derechos de los usuarios como lo es el de calificación única, consagrado en el numeral 6 de la Ley Sobre Inscripción de Documentos en el Registro Público y según el cual, un documento no puede ser objeto de dos calificaciones. De esta manera, el registrador que otorgó la primera calificación será el responsable de inscribir el documento con los defectos inicialmente apuntados por él mismo. De acuerdo con las declaraciones de [Nombre1] (folio 152), [Nombre2] (folio 155) y de [Nombre3] (folio 156), esa es una disposición hartamente conocida por los registradores; siendo que otros registradores de la misma unidad podían trabajar un documento ajeno, pero únicamente con autorización o por mandato expreso del superior, cuando el funcionario inicialmente asignado estuviera incapacitado o ausente. No obstante la claridad que se tiene de esa obligación, el actor dispuso la inscripción de un documento de tan dudosa legitimidad; el que además no le competía, por haber sido asignado a una registradora compañera suya quien no estaba en alguna de esas condiciones (incapacitada o en vacaciones). Quizás ese proceder podría estimarse como una posibilidad de error, dada la cantidad de documentos que maneja el Registro Público y cada uno de los registradores; de modo que la sanción no ameritaría la drasticidad de un despido. Sin embargo, el tema es que tal incorrección se haya cometido con un documento de tan cuestionada legitimidad; y aquí es donde cobra importancia la circunstancia de que el actor no haya demostrado con la claridad requerida, el contenido del folio segundo con el que según él, fundamentó su actuación. Su argumento, sobre la falta de demostración de algún daño a las partes interesadas en el documento, no es de recibo. Al margen de la forma como pudieron verse comprometidos los intereses de la parte acreedora; quien resulta perjudicado en una indebida actuación de un funcionario registral es la institución para la cual labora; pues no es posible desconocer que la seguridad, la imparcialidad y la transparencia en la gestión registral, son bastiones que cementan la institución patronal. Además, tampoco está del todo claro que entre las partes contratantes no se haya generado alguna controversia cuando el testigo [Nombre1] , comentó que hubo una conciliación o un arreglo entre ellos. En efecto, este testigo, a la pregunta de si había existido alguna inmovilización de la finca o si se había presentado una denuncia dijo: No se dio, existió un acuerdo entre las partes, una conciliación (folio 154). Estas situaciones de inseguridad son las que resultan intolerables en una institución registral, precisamente encargada de velar por la seguridad del patrimonio de las personas. El compromiso con este cometido explica la importancia que revisten los procedimientos institucionales instaurados y su obligatorio acatamiento, al que están vinculados los funcionarios. Por esa razón, la decisión patronal de despedir al actor, por haber autorizado un documento de tan dudosa legitimidad; que además, no le correspondía autorizar sino a una compañera suya, puede estimarse justificada en tanto no sólo violentó los procedimientos institucionales establecidos para la gestión de los documentos sino que además, su proceder constituye una razón objetiva de pérdida de confianza al haber demostrado un desconocimiento de normas elementales mínimas en el proceder registral, autorizando el retiro sin inscribir solicitado por una persona distinta al titular del derecho.”",
  "body_en_text": "“II.- STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (PRESCRIPCIÓN) OF THE DISCIPLINARY POWER: The appellant is incorrect in pointing to an improper calculation of the terms of the statute of limitations (prescripción) established in numeral 603 of the Labor Code (Código de Trabajo). As was proven, the Director General of the Public Registry (Registro Público), through official letter no. DGRN-590 of July 5, 2002, informed the Legal Advisory Office of the Ministry of Justice and Grace (Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia) of the alleged anomalies committed by the plaintiff. This official letter was received by that other office on the 8th of that same month and year. Thus, by August 6, 2002, when the head of the Ministry of Justice requested the dismissal proceeding against the plaintiff before the General Directorate of Civil Service (Dirección General de Servicio Civil), the peremptory period of the statute of limitations (prescripción) set forth in the cited provision had not elapsed. As has been repeatedly pointed out, the statute of limitations (prescripción) is a right-extinguishing institution, which penalizes the inactivity of the holder in the exercise or collection of their right for a certain period. In relation to the exercise of the employer's authority to discipline its workers, it implies an abandonment or negligence in the exercise of that right for more than one month, after the fault was committed. However, when the employer gains knowledge of the fault at a date later than the actual occurrence of the facts, that period begins to run from that knowledge. This Chamber has repeatedly indicated that in the Public Administration, or in entities where a procedure is required prior to the imposition of the sanction to determine the existence of the alleged facts, that period begins when the head with the authority to impose the sanction is notified of the result of the investigation, which is when they legally gain knowledge of the existence of the facts, because before that they are unable to make any decision (in this regard, rulings of this Chamber no. 713 and 810, of 10:25 a.m. on October 3 and 10:20 a.m. on October 31, both of 2007, are illustrative). Having analyzed the proceedings surrounding the decision to dismiss the plaintiff, it is evident that even from the very moment the immediate superior is informed of the noted anomalies until the date when the minister communicates the intention to dismiss to the General Directorate of Civil Service (Dirección General de Servicio Civil), there was no employer abandonment of its disciplinary power. Note that on June 18, 2002, the plaintiff sent a note to the Director of the Public Registry of Real Property (Registro Público de Bienes Inmuebles) reporting the loss of the document filed since June 12, 2001, in volume 491, entry 10597. Likewise, on June 26 of that year, the Head of Registrars communicated to the aforementioned director the events surrounding the vacations and the condition in which the plaintiff left his work. In relation to the situation that arose with Ms. Badilla Villanueva, she reported the events to the Director of the Registry of Real Property (Registro de Bienes Inmuebles), in a note dated July 3, 2002 (folio 8 of the dismissal proceeding file). Having learned of these facts, the Director of the Registry of Real Property (Registro de Bienes Inmuebles) brought them to the attention of the institutional head—Director General of the National Registry (Registro Nacional)—on July 5, 2002, who, through an official letter of that same date, communicated to the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Justice and Grace (Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia) the anomalies attributed to the plaintiff; an official letter that was received by that other department on July 8, 2002. There is no evidence whatsoever of an abandonment by the institutional hierarchy in disciplining the official's conduct. The action of the pertinent Minister was equally timely, in processing the dismissal proceeding before the Civil Service Directorate (Dirección de Servicio Civil) on August 6 of that year, that is, without the one-month prescriptive term contained in numeral 603 of the Labor Code (Código de Trabajo) having elapsed. The thesis that the statute of limitations (prescripción) ran between the knowledge of the facts by the Director of the Registry of Real Property (Registro de Bienes Inmuebles) and the communication to the Civil Service Directorate (Dirección del Servicio Civil) is not tenable because said Director is not the institutional head with the authority to determine the application of the disciplinary regime, a power that by law is exclusive to the Minister of Justice, as provided by the Organic Law of that Ministry, Law No. 6739 of April 28, 1982, in its articles 2 and 3, subsection b). Furthermore, as mentioned, between the knowledge of the facts that this official had and the minister's action before the General Directorate of Civil Service (Dirección General del Servicio Civil), there was no institutional abandonment for more than one month of the actions that would maintain the interest in exercising that disciplinary power. For these reasons, the exception of statute of limitations (prescripción) is considered correctly resolved.\n\nIII.- GRAVITY OF THE FAULT COMMITTED: The appellant disagrees because the court failed to note the notarial statement appearing on the second page of the certified copy submitted to the Public Registry (Registro Público), in which, he says, the appearance of the creditor and owner of the document was indicated, requesting the withdrawal without registration of the document. This argument, and the others with which he seeks the reversal of the decision, are not acceptable for the following reasons: First, it must be mentioned that in the copy of the aforementioned page, what the appellant argues is not legible, that is, with said document it is not possible to consider the supposed notarial statement argued by the official as proven, as a justification for his action. Therefore, it is not possible to attribute to the court an error of assessment or evaluation of the evidence if the content of the document with which he intends to justify his actions was not proven clearly. That is, the court could never have incurred an improper evaluation of the evidentiary material, in violation of the provisions of article 493 of the Labor Code (Código de Trabajo); nor in an incorrect application of numeral 474 of the Civil Code (Código Civil) or the articles of the Notarial Code (Código Notarial) cited in the appeal, because the microfilmed copy of the document with which the plaintiff intends to support his action is not legible; and for that very reason, the court cannot consider the alleged appearance of the mortgage creditor, the holder of the right whose withdrawal without registration was requested, as proven. Therefore, the only certain and proven fact is the same one that the employer entity deemed proven, that is, that he authorized a withdrawal without registration of a mortgage, based on a certified copy in which the appearing party is the debtor, this action indeed being in open contradiction with the cited numeral of the Civil Code (Código Civil). The reproach regarding the official's seniority has clear support: in registry practice, the importance of experience is undeniable; which, as in the rest of the Public Administration, is valued as a plus that is compensated with the recognition of annual increments (anualidades) (Public Administration Salary Law). It is not possible for an official with more than two decades of working in that institution to have proceeded to authorize such a registry movement, with evident disregard for a basic knowledge that is required of a public registrar of real property, as is his case. Added to this circumstance is the fact that it involves the authorization of a withdrawal without registration, a registry process that was not his responsibility; and that is another regulation that the plaintiff cannot deny knowing. All the testimonial statements gathered attest that the registrar assigned to the intake of the document is the one responsible for registration. These statements are consistent with the legal provisions that regulate registry activity, particularly the Law on Registration of Documents in the Public Registry No. 3883 of May 30, 1967, in provisions such as those contained in articles 6 and 12; as well as in the Regulation of the Public Registry (Reglamento del Registro Público), Executive Decree No. 26771-J of February 18, 1998, particularly in its articles 9, 33, 34, and 41, which state: Art. 9: The Registrars are responsible for the qualification and registration of the documents submitted for their study, which they will do through the means available to them in coordination with the Directorate, with the obligation to provide efficient service. Art. 33. Once the intake of documents for the day has been closed and all the corresponding operations of the Daily Record (Diario) have been performed, the distribution of the documents filed that day to the respective registrars will take place, and it will be done in the most just and equitable manner. Art. 34: Legality Control. The qualifying function consists of conducting a prior examination and verification of the titles submitted for registration, so that only valid and perfect titles are registered, because the entries must be exact and consistent with the legal reality derived from them. The qualification of titles consists of the examination, scrutiny, or verification of the legality of the documents submitted that the Registrar must do before proceeding with registration, with the power to suspend or deny those that do not conform to the provisions of our legal system. At the time of qualification, the official assigned for that purpose will rely only on what results from the title and in general on all the information appearing in the Registry, and their decisions will not prevent or prejudge the validity of the latter, or the obligation it contains. Article 41.- Correction of Defects by Additional Document. If a document suffers from a curable defect and it is corrected by a new one, once it is submitted to the Registry, both will be delivered to the respective Registrar for their registration. If a document is submitted as an additional one to another and does not fulfill its purpose because it contains new acts or contracts, the Registrar will process what is related to the correction of the principal document, but will partially cancel the filing of the additional document concerning the new act or contract. This regulation demonstrates that in the disposition of documents to be registered, there is a rigorous order of assignment, which must be respected by the registrars, both when the document is assigned to them for qualification, and in subsequent registry movements, once the noted defects have been addressed and corrected. This principle is important not only as a guarantee of transparency and security in registry work, but also for the fulfillment of other provisions related to user rights, such as that of sole qualification, enshrined in numeral 6 of the Law on Registration of Documents in the Public Registry, according to which a document cannot be subject to two qualifications. In this way, the registrar who granted the first qualification will be responsible for registering the document with the defects initially noted by them. According to the statements of [Nombre1] (folio 152), [Nombre2] (folio 155), and [Nombre3] (folio 156), this is a widely known provision among registrars; other registrars in the same unit could work on a document assigned to another only with authorization or by express instruction from a superior, when the official initially assigned was incapacitated or absent. Despite the clarity of this obligation, the plaintiff ordered the registration of a document of such doubtful legitimacy; one that furthermore did not fall under his responsibility, as it had been assigned to a fellow registrar who was not in any of those conditions (incapacitated or on vacation). Perhaps this conduct could be considered a possible error, given the volume of documents handled by the Public Registry (Registro Público) and each of the registrars; so the sanction would not warrant the severity of a dismissal. However, the issue is that such an incorrect action was committed with a document of such questionable legitimacy; and it is here that the circumstance that the plaintiff did not demonstrate with the required clarity the content of the second page with which he allegedly based his action takes on importance. His argument regarding the lack of proof of any harm to the parties interested in the document is not acceptable. Regardless of how the interests of the creditor party may have been jeopardized, the party harmed by an improper action of a registry official is the institution for which they work; for it is not possible to ignore that security, impartiality, and transparency in registry operations are bastions that cement the employer institution. Besides, it is also not entirely clear that no dispute arose between the contracting parties when the witness [Nombre1] commented that there was a conciliation or an agreement between them. Indeed, this witness, when asked if there had been any immobilization of the property or if a complaint had been filed, stated: It did not happen, there was an agreement between the parties, a conciliation (folio 154). It is these situations of insecurity that are intolerable in a registry institution, precisely tasked with ensuring the security of individuals' property. The commitment to this purpose explains the importance of the established institutional procedures and their mandatory observance, to which the officials are bound. For this reason, the employer's decision to dismiss the plaintiff, for having authorized a document of such doubtful legitimacy which, moreover, was not his to authorize but a colleague's, can be considered justified insofar as he not only violated the institutional procedures established for the management of documents but also, his conduct constituted an objective reason for loss of trust, having demonstrated ignorance of minimum elementary rules in registry procedure, by authorizing the withdrawal without registration requested by a person other than the holder of the right.”\n\nIf a document has a curable defect and it is corrected by means of a new document, presented to the Registry, <span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic\">both shall be delivered to the respective Registrar for their registration</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'; font-weight:bold\">.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> If a document is presented as an additional one to another and does not fulfill its objective because it contains new acts or contracts, the Registrar shall process that which relates to the correction of the main document, but shall partially cancel the filing of the additional document with respect to the new act or contract.</span><span> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\">This regulation shows that in the disposition of documents to be registered, there is a rigorous order of assignment, which must be respected by the registrars, both when the document is assigned to them for its qualification (calificación), and in the subsequent registry movements, once the noted defects have been addressed and corrected. This principle is important not only as a guarantee of</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> transparency and security in the registry work, but also for compliance with other provisions related to users' rights, such as that of single qualification (calificación única), enshrined in numeral 6 of the \"Ley Sobre Inscripción de Documentos en el Registro Público\" and according to which, a document cannot be subject to two qualifications (calificaciones). In this way, the registrar who granted the first qualification (calificación) shall be responsible for registering the document with the defects initially noted by him/herself.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> According to the statements of [Nombre1]</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'; -aw-import:spaces\">   </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\">(folio 152), [Nombre2]</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'; -aw-import:spaces\">   </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\">(folio 155) and [Nombre3]</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'; -aw-import:spaces\">    </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\">(folio 156), this is a provision widely known by the registrars; it being that other registrars of the same unit could work on another's document, but only with authorization or by express mandate of the superior, when the official initially assigned was disabled or absent.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> Notwithstanding the clarity held regarding this obligation, the plaintiff ordered the registration of a document of such dubious legitimacy; one that also was not within his purview, having been assigned to a fellow registrar who was not in any of those conditions (disabled or on vacation). Perhaps that conduct could be considered a possibility of error, given the quantity of documents handled by the Public Registry and each of the registrars; such that the sanction would not warrant the drastic nature of a dismissal.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> However, the issue is that such an impropriety was committed with a document of such questioned legitimacy; and here is where the circumstance gains importance that the plaintiff did not demonstrate, with the required clarity, the content of the second folio with which, according to him, he based his action.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> His argument, regarding the lack of demonstration of any harm to the parties interested in the document, is not admissible.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> Regardless of the way in which the interests of the creditor party could have been compromised; the party harmed by an improper action of a registry official is the institution for which he works; since it is not possible to ignore that security, impartiality, and transparency in registry management are bastions that cement</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> the employer institution. Furthermore, it is not entirely clear that no controversy arose between the contracting parties, when the witness [Nombre1] commented that there was a conciliation or an arrangement between them.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> Indeed, this witness, to the question of whether there had been any immobilization (inmovilización) of the property or whether a complaint had been filed, stated: It did not happen, an agreement existed between the parties, a conciliation (folio 154). These situations of insecurity are precisely what are intolerable in a registry institution, specifically charged with ensuring the security of people's assets.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> The commitment to this mission explains the importance held by the established institutional procedures and their obligatory compliance, to which the officials are bound.</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> For this reason, the employer's decision to dismiss the plaintiff, for having authorized a document of such dubious legitimacy; which, moreover, was not his to authorize</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> but rather that of a colleague of his,</span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> </span><span style=\"font-family:'Bookman Old Style'\"> can be deemed justified insofar as he not only violated the institutional procedures established for the management of documents, but also his conduct constitutes an objective reason for loss of confidence (pérdida de confianza) by having demonstrated a disregard for minimum elementary norms in registry procedure, authorizing the withdrawal without registration (retiro sin inscribir) requested by a person other than the titleholder.</span><span>\"</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify\"><span> </span></p></div></body></html>\n\nIf a document suffers from a curable defect and is corrected by means of a new one, the latter being presented to the Registry, both shall be delivered to the respective Registrar for their registration. If a document is presented as supplementary to another and does not fulfill its purpose because it contains new acts or contracts, the Registrar shall process the matters relating to the correction of the principal document but shall partially cancel the filing of the supplementary document with respect to the new act or contract.\n\nThis regulation shows that in the disposition of documents to be registered, there is a rigorous order of assignment that must be respected by the registrars, both when the document is assigned to them for qualification (calificación) and in the subsequent registry movements, once the noted defects have been addressed and cured. This principle is important not only as a guarantee of transparency and security in registry work, but also for compliance with other provisions related to users’ rights, such as that of single qualification (calificación única), enshrined in numeral 6 of the Law on the Registration of Documents in the Public Registry, according to which a document may not be subject to two qualifications. In this way, the registrar who issued the first qualification shall be responsible for registering the document with the defects initially noted by that same registrar.\n\nAccording to the statements of [Nombre1] (folio 152), [Nombre2] (folio 155), and [Nombre3] (folio 156), that is a provision widely known by registrars; other registrars of the same unit could work on another’s document, but only with authorization or by express mandate of the superior, when the official initially assigned was incapacitated or absent.\n\nDespite the clarity regarding that obligation, the plaintiff ordered the registration of a document of such dubious legitimacy, one which furthermore was not within his purview, having been assigned to a fellow female registrar who was not in any of those conditions (incapacitated or on vacation). Perhaps this conduct could be considered a possibility of error, given the number of documents managed by the Public Registry and by each of the registrars, such that the sanction would not warrant the drastic nature of a dismissal.\n\nHowever, the issue is that such an irregularity was committed with a document of such questioned legitimacy; and it is here that the circumstance gains importance that the plaintiff did not demonstrate, with the required clarity, the content of the second folio upon which, according to him, he based his actions.\n\nHis argument regarding the lack of proof of any harm to the parties interested in the document is not acceptable.\n\nRegardless of the manner in which the interests of the creditor party might have been compromised, the party harmed by an improper act of a registry official is the institution for which he works; for it is impossible to ignore that security, impartiality, and transparency in registry management are bastions that cement the employer institution. Furthermore, it is also not entirely clear that no dispute arose between the contracting parties, when the witness [Nombre1] commented that there was a conciliation or a settlement between them.\n\nIndeed, this witness, when asked whether there had been any immobilization of the property or whether a complaint had been filed, said: It did not occur; there was an agreement between the parties, a conciliation (folio 154). These situations of insecurity are those that prove intolerable in a registry institution, precisely charged with safeguarding the security of individuals’ patrimony.\n\nThe commitment to this mission explains the importance of the established institutional procedures and their obligatory observance, to which officials are bound.\n\nFor that reason, the employer’s decision to dismiss the plaintiff, for having authorized a document of such dubious legitimacy that, moreover, it did not fall to him to authorize but to a female colleague of his, may be deemed justified insofar as he not only violated the institutional procedures established for the management of documents, but also, his conduct constitutes an objective reason for loss of trust, having demonstrated a disregard for the minimum basic rules of registry procedure by authorizing the unregistered withdrawal requested by a person other than the right holder.”"
}