Constitutional Court at Karlsruhe has ruled that the dissolution of
the East German Academy of Sciences and sacking of 7000 of its scientists
was legal. More than 400 scientists who worked for the academy had gone
to court to challenge their dismissals.
The judges said the move was necessary 鈥榝or the maintenance and optimal
use of the Academy鈥檚 research potential and for the rapid reorganisation
and improvement of research in Germany鈥檚 new federal states鈥�.
The court made exceptions in the cases of women who were pregnant at
the time they were fired and for those who were given less than a month鈥檚
notice that they would lose their jobs at the end of last year. Their contracts
will be extended.
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