diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Collection.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Collection.java
index 2caed8e7b2..25845a5dad 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Collection.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Collection.java
@@ -725,8 +725,20 @@ public class Collection extends DSpaceObject
      */
     public void removeAdministrators() throws SQLException, AuthorizeException
     {
-        // Check authorisation - Must be an Admin to delete Admin Group
-        AuthorizeManager.authorizeAction(ourContext, this, Constants.ADMIN);
+        // Check authorisation - Must be an Admin of the parent community to delete Admin Group
+        Community[] parentCommunities = getCommunities();
+        if (parentCommunities != null && parentCommunities.length > 0)
+        {
+            AuthorizeManager.authorizeAction(ourContext, this.getCommunities()[0], Constants.ADMIN);
+        }
+        else if (!AuthorizeManager.isAdmin(ourContext))
+        {
+            // this should never happen, a collection should always have at least one parent community!
+            // anyway...
+            throw new AuthorizeException(
+                    "Only system admin can remove the admin group of a collection outside any community",
+                    this, Constants.ADMIN); 
+        }
 
         // just return if there is no administrative group.
         if (admins == null)
diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Community.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Community.java
index cc642833c1..75246d03f8 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Community.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/Community.java
@@ -555,8 +555,18 @@ public class Community extends DSpaceObject
      */
     public void removeAdministrators() throws SQLException, AuthorizeException
     {
-        // Check authorisation - Must be an Admin to delete Admin group
-        AuthorizeManager.authorizeAction(ourContext, this, Constants.ADMIN);
+        // Check authorisation - Must be an Admin of the parent community (or system admin) to delete Admin group
+        Community parentCommunity = getParentCommunity();
+        if (parentCommunity != null)
+        {
+            AuthorizeManager.authorizeAction(ourContext, parentCommunity, Constants.ADMIN);
+        }
+        else if (!AuthorizeManager.isAdmin(ourContext))
+        {
+            throw new AuthorizeException(
+                    "Only system admin can remove the admin group of a top community",
+                    this, Constants.ADMIN); 
+        }
 
         // just return if there is no administrative group.
         if (admins == null)
diff --git a/dspace/CHANGES b/dspace/CHANGES
index 0e7dd7687f..69fed57aaa 100644
--- a/dspace/CHANGES
+++ b/dspace/CHANGES
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
  - [DS-199] SWORD module doesn't accept X-No-Op header (dry run)
  - [DS-223] Submission process show previous button in JSPUI also if the step is the first "visible" step
  - [DS-227] Values with double apos doesn't work in dropdown and list input type
+ - [DS-259] Community/collection admin should not to be able to delete their admin group 
 
 (Tim Donohue)
  - [DS-218] Cannot add/remove email subscriptions from Profile page in XMLUI