The Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic (NSS) ruled on the cassation appeal of Jaroslav Brož, former dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty of Charles University (KTF UK) in Prague, which he had filed against a decision of the Municipal Court in Prague. The court granted the appeal and ordered the Municipal Court in Prague to decide anew on Brož's action against his removal as dean.[1]
Decision of the court
The Municipal Court in Prague had originally dismissed Brož's action against the removal.[1] The NSS panel led by presiding judge David Hipšr stated in its judgment that the Municipal Court had considered the grounds for removal largely arbitrary, yet dismissed the action nonetheless, thereby, in the NSS's view, legitimising the procedure of the academic senate.[1] The NSS ordered the Municipal Court to assess the individual grounds for removal jointly and in context, not in isolation, because in the court's view the alleged failings are interlinked and one led to another.[1]
According to the Czech News Agency, the NSS decision does not automatically mean that Brož is confirmed as dean again; it only opens the way for a new assessment of the lawfulness of his removal by the Municipal Court in Prague.[1]
Background of the case
Brož headed the KTF UK from May 2024.[1] The then rector of Charles University, Milena Králíčková, removed him from office in February 2025 on the proposal of the faculty's academic senate, and a second time in summer 2025.[1] The academic senate criticised Brož for ten failings, among them that, because of staff changes, the faculty was unable to provide the study programme History of European Culture in accordance with the accreditation files.[1] Given the unclear procedural situation regarding the leadership of the school, the faculty was temporarily under forced administration imposed on it by the Ministry of Education.[1] Brož returned to office in March 2026, after the NSS granted suspensive effect to his cassation appeal.[1]
Reactions
After the NSS decision Brož said: “I accept the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court with humility and relief. After long months of uncertainty it is an important legal satisfaction for me.”[1] He added that from the outset he had pointed out substantive and legal deficiencies in the process of his removal and that at the start of the new academic year he wants to concentrate on students, staff and the development of the faculty.[1] Michaela Lagronová, spokeswoman for Charles University, told the Czech News Agency that the university's leadership must first study the NSS judgment more closely.[1]
Related articles: Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic
Chronology
- — The Supreme Administrative Court upheld Jaroslav Brož's cassation complaint; the Prague Municipal Court must rule again on his dismissal as dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty of Charles University. ČTK / České noviny iROZHLAS
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 29 September 2026