In some fields of law legal rules may not be laid down with total precision. Undue delay in child contact proceedings may have irreversible effects upon the child. Citations: [1998] ECHR 46, 22430/93, (1998) 33 EHRR 81 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Cited by: Cited – Gillan, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police for … Continue reading Bronda v Italy: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
The claimant, who was disabled, said that his Article 8 rights were infringed because, in breach of Italian law, there were no facilities to enable him to get to the sea when he went on holiday. Held: ‘Private life . . includes a person’s physical and psychological integrity; the guarantee afforded by Article 8 of … Continue reading Botta v Italy: ECHR 24 Feb 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Pecuniary damage – financial award; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 32, 26256/95, [1998] ECHR 32 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165619
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1 (access to court); Violation of Art. 6-1 (length of proceedings); Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Pecuniary damage – financial award Citations: [1998] ECHR 104, 38212/97 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165685
The restriction on local government officers and other against some political activities were not an infringement of their human rights and fell within the requirements for free expression and for free elections‘The Court recalls that in its above-mentioned Vogt judgment (pp. 25-26, – 52) it articulated as follows the basic principles laid down in its … Continue reading Ahmed And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 2 Sep 1998
The court had no jurisdiction to consider allegations not raised before the commission or predating a country’s accession to the convention. There was no breach in a failure to record an exposure to radiation in a test. Article 2 imposes substantive obligations not to take life without justification and to establish a framework of laws, … Continue reading LCB v The United Kingdom: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses partial award – domestic proceedings; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedings. Citations: [1998] ECHR 62, 25554/94 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165648
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Costs and expenses partial award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 63, 24767/94 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165649
Mr De Castro had been the target of an unwarranted, unauthorised, unsupervised police operation in which undercover officers incited him to supply drugs. He challenged a conviction for trafficking in heroin, based mainly on statements of two police officers. Held: The necessary inference from the circumstances was that these officers had ‘exercised an influence such … Continue reading Teixeira De Castro v Portugal: ECHR 9 Jun 1998
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); Violation of Art. 6-1; Violation of P1-1; Not necessary to examine Art. 8; Not necessary to examine Art. 13; Pecuniary damage – financial award; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings Citations: [1998] … Continue reading Vasilescu v Romania: ECHR 22 May 1998
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Pecuniary damage – claim rejected; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 34, 31648/96 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165617
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – domestic proceedings Citations: [1998] ECHR 33, 32305/96 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.165618
The presumption of innocence is one of the elements of the fair criminal trial required by article 6(1). Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); No violation of Art. 6-1; No violation of Art. 6-2 Citations: [1998] ECHR 31, 22885/93, (1998) 30 EHRR 808 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Cited by: Cited – Sheldrake v … Continue reading Bernard v France: ECHR 23 Apr 1998
An allegation of violence by a police officer did require a thorough, impartial and careful investigation by a suitable and independent state authority: ‘The court considers that in these circumstances, where an individual raises an arguable claim that he has been seriously ill treated by the police or other such agents of the State unlawfully … Continue reading Assenov and Others v Bulgaria: ECHR 28 Oct 1998
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (victim); Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); No violation of Art. 2; Violation of Art. 2 (effective investigation); Violation of Art. 13; Not necessary to examine Art. 10; Not necessary to examine Art. 14; Not necessary to examine Art. 18; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses … Continue reading Yasa v Turkey: ECHR 2 Sep 1998
Mr Johnson awaited trial for crimes of violence. He was diagnosed mentally ill, and on conviction made subject to a hospital order, and restricted without limit of time. He made progress, but was not discharged or re-classified. At a fourth tribunal hearing in June 1989 the opinion was that he was no longer suffering from … Continue reading Johnson v The United Kingdom: ECHR 24 Oct 1997
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); Not necessary to examine Art. 5; Not necessary to examine Art. 6; Violation of Art. 13; No violation of Art. 14; No violation of Art. 18; No violation of Art. 2; No violation of Art. 3; No violation of Art. 5; No violation of Art. … Continue reading Mentes and Others v Turkey: ECHR 28 Nov 1997
The applicant, an AIDS sufferer, resisted his removal to St Kitts where lack of medical treatment would hasten his death. Held: The deportation of a convicted person suffering from Aids to a country with less care facilities was inhuman or degrading treatment. ‘In its Vilvarajah and Others judgment and its Soering judgment the Court considered … Continue reading D v The United Kingdom: ECHR 2 May 1997
(Grand Chamber) The applicants lived about 1km from a chemical factory which produced fertilizers and other chemicals and was classified as ‘high risk’ in criteria set out by Presidential Decree. Held: Failure by a government to release to an affected population details of known pollution risks could amount to breach of their human rights: ‘The … Continue reading Guerra and Others v Italy: ECHR 19 Feb 1998
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (abuse of process); Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); Violation of Art. 8; Violation of Art. 25-1; Violation of P1-1; No violation of Art. 14; No violation of Art. 18; Not necessary to examine Art. 3; Not necessary to examine Art. 5; Not necessary to examine Art. 6-1; … Continue reading Akdivar and Others v Turkey: ECHR 16 Sep 1996
(Preliminary objections) The ECHR considered the situation in northern Cyprus when it was asked as to Turkey’s preliminary objections to admissibility: ‘although Article 1 sets limits on the reach of the Convention, the concept of ‘jurisdiction’ under this provision is not restricted to the national territory of the High Contracting Parties. According to its established … Continue reading Loizidou v Turkey: ECHR 23 Mar 1995
Bryan was a farmer at Warrington in Cheshire. He built two brick buildings on land in a conservation area without planning permission and the planning authority served an enforcement notice for their demolition. He appealed on grounds (a) (that planning permission should be granted), (b) (that there had been no breach of planning control) and … Continue reading Bryan v The United Kingdom: ECHR 22 Nov 1995
Hudoc Violation of Art. 5-3; Just satisfaction reserved Citations: [1991] ECHR 71, 12718/87, (1992) 14 EHRR 717 Links: Worldlii, Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Cited by: Cited – Clooth v Belgium (Article 50) ECHR 5-Mar-1998 Hudoc Judgment (Just satisfaction) Pecuniary damage – claim rejected; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – Convention … Continue reading Clooth v Belgium: ECHR 12 Dec 1991
The applicant was a Moroccan national who arrived in Belgium in 1965 when he was aged under 2. In 1984, nineteen years later, after a career of juvenile crime, he was deported, but the deportation order was suspended in 1989 and he returned to Belgium. He complained that his deportation had violated his right to … Continue reading Moustaquim v Belgium: ECHR 18 Feb 1991
A homosexual man complained that the criminalisation of homosexual conduct in Ireland violated his article 8 right to respect for his private life, although he accepted that the risk of being prosecuted was remote. Held: The court accepted that he was a victim. Even an administrative policy of not prosecuting for the offence in question … Continue reading Norris v Ireland: ECHR 26 Oct 1988
The applicant complained of ill-treatment while he was in the care of a local authority and living with foster parents. He sought access to his case records held by the local authority but his request was denied. Held: The refusal to allow him access to his records involved a breach of his rights under Article … Continue reading Gaskin v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989
(Plenary Court) The court described and approved the way in which an ‘institutional’ right to vote had developed into ‘subjective rights of participation – the ‘right to vote’ and the ‘right to stand for election’.’ It described the ambit of Article 3: ‘In their internal legal orders the Contracting States make the rights to vote … Continue reading Mathieu Mohin and Clerfayt v Belgium: ECHR 2 Mar 1987
The system in Scotland whereby lesser judges were appointed by the executive, for a year at a time, and could be discharged without explanation or challenge, meant that they could be seen not to be independent, and the system was a breach of the right to a fair trial by an independent judiciary. There was … Continue reading Starrs and Chalmers and Bill of Advocattion for Procurator Fiscal, Linlithgow v Procurator Fiscal, Linlithgow and Hugh Latta Starrs and James Wilson Chalmers; Starrs v Ruxton, Ruxton v Starrs: ScHC 11 Nov 1999
(Bahamas) The applicants appealed against sentences of death, saying that the executions would be unlawful while there was a pending appeal to the OAS. Held: The appeals failed. The Bahamas was a member of the Organisation of American States, but the rules of that organisation had not been incorporated into its law. The planned execution … Continue reading Higgs and Mitchell v The Minister of National Security and others: PC 14 Dec 1999
(Antigua and Barbuda) The applicant was employed as a civil servant. He joined a demonstration alleging corruption in a minister. It was alleged he had infringed his duties as a civil servant, and he replied that the constitution allowed him to speak out. Held: The demonstration did contravene the restriction on publishing his views. Analogies … Continue reading De Freitas v The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and Housing and others: PC 30 Jun 1998
It is a well recognised canon of construction that domestic legislation, including the Constitution, should if possible be construed so as to conform to international instruments to which the state is party. Lord Hoffmann said: ‘of course persons should be uniformly treated unless there is some valid reason to treat them differently . . The … Continue reading Matadeen and others v M G C Pointu and others (Mauritius): PC 18 Feb 1998
A tenancy which had been terminated by a notice given by one of the joint tenants had expired. It did not come to an end by any deed, and so was not capable of being set aside by a family court in the course of divorce proceedings. The possession proceedings issued by the landlord could … Continue reading Newlon Housing Trust v Alsulaimen and Another: HL 29 Jul 1998
Criminal proceedings, forming part of the general scheme of enforcement of planning control contained in Part VII of the Act, had been taken. Held: The validity of a planning enforcement notice must be challenged in civil proceedings, not during a defence on enforcement. In looking at Part VII of the Act, the scheme of enforcement … Continue reading Regina v Wicks: HL 21 May 1997
A sentence of detention during her majesty’s pleasure when imposed on a youth was not the same as a sentence of life imprisonment, and the Home Secretary was wrong to treat it on the same basis and to make allowance for expressions of public opinion. Of a sentence under the section: ‘The Secretary of State … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State For The Home Department, Ex Parte Venables, Regina v Secretary of State For The Home Department, Ex Parte Thompson: HL 12 Jun 1997
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Violation of Art. 6-1; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings. Citations: 25549/94, [1998] ECHR 47 Links: Worldlii, Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Human Rights Updated: 28 May 2022; Ref: scu.165638
It is not sufficient for an authority to discharge its duty under the Act by writing letters to those affected or potentially affected and offering them reassessment. Carnwath J said: ‘In some areas of the law that might be an adequate response, where those affected can be assumed to be capable of looking after their … Continue reading Regina v Gloucestershire County Council ex parte Radar: Admn 1998
Citations: [1998] EWHC Admin 1056 Links: Bailii Statutes: Bail Act 1976 4(1) Human Rights, Criminal Practice Updated: 27 May 2022; Ref: scu.139177
The police have power to release limited information about offenders. In this case known paedophiles were staying at a campsite, and their criminal record was disclosed to the site owner. There was no harrassment under s3 of the 1968 Act. On any duty of confidence: ‘I have great difficulty in accepting that the information which … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable for North Wales Police Area Authority ex parte AB and CD etc: Admn 10 Jul 1997
If subordinate legislation cannot be construed in a way that makes it compatible with fundamental rights, it will be declared ultra vires. Rules which disallowed exemptions from court fees to a litigant in person on income support were invalid. They infringed the rule allowing access to justice. The common law had given special weight to … Continue reading Regina v Lord Chancellor ex parte John Witham: Admn 7 Mar 1997
The Court was asked whether a district judge qualifies as a ‘worker’ for the purpose of the protection given to whistle-blowers under Part IVA of the 1996 Act, and if not then was the absence of protection an infringement of her human rights. Held: As an office holder, she was neither employee nor worker, and … Continue reading Gilham v Ministry of Justice: SC 16 Oct 2019
The German courts construed a teacher’s duty of loyalty as absolute and owed equally by every civil servant, regardless of his or her function and rank under national law. Every civil servant, whatever his or her own opinion on the matter, must unambiguously renounce all groups and movements which the competent authorities hold to be … Continue reading Vogt v Germany: ECHR 1 Nov 1995
Both applicants, Islam and Shah, citizens of Pakistan, but otherwise unconnected with each other, had suffered violence in Pakistan after being falsely accused them of adultery. Both applicants arrived in the UK and were granted leave to enter as visitors for six months. Both applicants subsequently applied for asylum on the ground that having been … Continue reading Regina v Immigration Appeal Tribunal and Another ex parte Shah: HL 25 Mar 1999
Speciality protection requirement satisfied by undertaking for re-surrender given by Hong Kong Chief Executive, despite excess time on bail. For the purposes of a challenge to extradition under domestic law, an applicant for habeas corpus is to be treated as effectively in custody. Judges: Simon Brown LJ, Mance J Citations: Gazette 18-Mar-1998, [1998] EWHC Admin … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Launder: QBD 18 Mar 1998
The House considered the need when assessing community care provision to include considerations of the cost and resources for care. The case concerned a question about the relevance of cost and arose in the context of a duty to make certain arrangements where a local authority is satisfied this is ‘necessary’ in order to meet … Continue reading Regina v Gloucestershire County Council and Another, Ex Parte Barry: HL 21 Mar 1997
Where a party applied to court for an ex parte order, counsel had direct duties to the court, and also the supporting legal team and clients had continuing and overlapping duties. There was little to be gained by trying to analyze these things too closely to apportion blame. Here counsel had applied to and misadvised … Continue reading Memory Corporation v Sidhu (No 2): CA 3 Dec 1999
The mother had been given leave by the Recorder to remove a ten month old girl permanently from the jurisdiction to the United States in circumstances where the mother`s job prospects were better in New York than in England. The father, (in person) raised the question of a breach of his right under Article 8(1). … Continue reading In re A (permission to remove child from jurisdiction: human rights): CA 2000
The prisoner complained that having written an autobiography, the manuscript materials had been withheld, and that this interfered with his rights of freedom of expression. Held: Such an action by the prison authorities was not incompatible with the prisoner’s rights. The materials were not privileged, but were intended for publication contrary to the standing orders. … Continue reading Nilsen, Regina (on the Application of) v Governor of HMP Full Sutton and Another: Admn 19 Dec 2003
A homosexual claimed that an award of custody of his daughter to her mother was an unjustified interference with his right to respect for family life, and also with his right to respect for his private life since he was required in respect of his right of access to his daughter to conceal from her … Continue reading Salgueiro da Silva Mouta v Portugal: ECHR 1 Dec 1998
The status of the prohibition on State torture as a rule of jus cogens has the consequence that at the inter-State level, any legislative, administrative or judicial act authorising torture is illegitimate. Furthermore, the prohibition on State torture imposes obligations owed by States erga omnes, to all other States which have a corresponding right and … Continue reading Prosecutor v Furundzija: ICT 10 Dec 1998
It is within a nation’s margin of appreciation to refuse to re-register birth details of people who had undergone sex-changes. Similarly it was not a human rights infringement not to allow post operative trans-sexuals to marry. However the court was critical of the United Kingdom’s apparent failure to take any steps to keep this area … Continue reading Sheffield and Horsham v The United Kingdom: ECHR 30 Jul 1998
The claimant had been sole director of a company which went into liquidation. He sought a redundancy payment from the respondent under the 1996 Act. It was refused. The tribunal had applied Buchan. It had refused to hear an argument that the tribunal chairman was also employed by the respondent and could not therefore be … Continue reading Smith v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: EAT 15 Oct 1999
The court did not have power to stop a TV program identifying a ward of court, but which was not about the care of the ward. The first instance court had granted an injunction in relation to a television programme dealing with the arrest and the conviction of a paedophile who was the father of … Continue reading R (Mrs) v Central Independent Television Plc: CA 17 Feb 1994
(International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia) The court described the main features of the law against torture: ‘There exists today universal revulsion against torture: as a USA Court put it in Filartiga v. Pena-Irala, ‘the torturer has become, like the pirate and the slave trader before him, hostis humani generis, an enemy of all … Continue reading Prosecutor v Furundzija: 1 Apr 1999
(Admissibility) The claimant was a prisoner who had been confined to her cell, unlawfully it was said, for some two hours. The evidence was that she was a heroin addict who objected to that restriction on her residual liberty. Held: ‘It is undisputed in the present case that Angela Bollan was lawfully detained in Corton … Continue reading Bollan v United Kingdom: ECHR 1998
The claimant appealed refusal of special leave to remain here after refusal of his application for asylum. Held: In view of the new material before the court it was not unarguable that the Secretary of State had not properly considered the material before him. Leave was given on that point only, and the case adjourned … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Home Department ex parte Turgut: CA 27 Oct 1998
The appellant sought exceptional leave to remain, having been refused asylum. Held: The issue concerned a Turkish citizen seeking asylum because he feared persecution if he was returned to Turkey, in being a Kurdish draft evader likely to be imprisoned and so subject to torture. ‘The authorities and Courts will view such claims with great … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Home Department ex parte Abdullah Turgut: Admn 22 May 1998
The court has a discretion to refuse to accept written evidence from a witness abroad who had refused to come here for fear of reprisals, and particularly so where the prosecution had failed to take advantage of procedures which would have allowed the defence to cross examine the witness. Citations: Times 07-Oct-1998 Statutes: European Convention … Continue reading Regina v Radak; Regina v Adjei; Regina v Butler-Rees; Regina v Meghjee: CACD 7 Oct 1998
Immediately after a child was born, the social worker began proceedings for it to be taken into care. The judge severely criticised the actions of the social worker before the birth. The local authority now appealed against an order at the conclusion of care proceedings that they should pay each parent damages in the sum … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004
The applicant had sought a student loan to support his studies as a mature student. It was refused because he would be over 55 at the date of the commencement of the course. He claimed this was discriminatory. Held: The Convention required the state not to prevent access to education, not a duty to subsidise … Continue reading Douglas v North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 19 Dec 2003
Administrative Discretion to be Used Reasonably The applicant challenged the manner of decision making as to the conditions which had been attached to its licence to open the cinema on Sundays. It had not been allowed to admit children under 15 years of age. The statute provided no appeal procedure, and the applicant sought a … Continue reading Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation: CA 10 Nov 1947
Housing benefit regulations had been found unlawful and were amended. The Court now considered what payments should have been made before the amendments came into effect. Held: The appeal was allowed, and RR’s housing benefit entitlement is to be recalculated without making the under-occupancy deduction of 14%. There is nothing unconstitutional about a public authority, … Continue reading RR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 13 Nov 2019
The claimant asserted that judicial proceedings, since they were conducted in the name of the Crown, were brought ‘by or at the instigation’ of a public authority, and that acts so challenged were therefore subject to the Act, even though they had taken place before the Act came into effect. The assertion was unsustainable. The … Continue reading Regina (Ben-Abdelaziz) v Haringey London Borough Council and Another: CA 19 Jun 2001
Citations: (1998) 25 EHRR CD130, X Jurisdiction: Human Rights Cited by: Cited – Wright and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Another HL 21-Jan-2009 The claimants had been provisionally listed as ‘people considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults’ which meant that they could no longer work, but … Continue reading Stefan v United Kingdom: ECHR 1998
The new Civil Procedure Rules were ultra vires and invalid insofar as they purported to remove any right of a solicitor’s client to assert his right of confidence as against his solicitor. The solicitor was therefore unable in this case to defend himself against a wasted costs order, but the court could allow for the … Continue reading General Mediterranean Holdings SA v Patel and Another: QBD 19 Jul 1999
The Secretary of State, when presenting an application for the disqualification of a company director is obliged to present a balanced picture. ‘It is accepted that these are not ordinary adversarial proceedings but have an element of public interest and may entail penal consequences. It follows that there is a duty on the applicant to … Continue reading Re Moonlight Foods Ltd , Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Hickling: 1996
An application to extradite a former head of state for an offence which was not at the time an offence under English law would fail, but could proceed in respect of allegations of acts after that time. No immunity was intended for heads of state. International law prohibiting torture has the character of jus cogens … Continue reading Regina v Bartle and Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and Others, ex parte Pinochet Ugarte; Regina v Evans and Similar (No 3): HL 24 Mar 1999
The parents had married under shariah law. They left the US to return to the father’s home country Saudi Arabia. They parted, and the mother brought their son to England against the father’s wishes and in breach of an agreement. The father sought his summary return to Saudi Arabia, a non-Convention country. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Re J (A Child), Re (Child returned abroad: Convention Rights); (Custody Rights: Jurisdiction): HL 16 Jun 2005
Guidance was given on the procedures to be followed for applications for non-disclosure for public interest immunity. The court identified three types of case. In the first, and most frequent case the prosecution must notify the defence of the application, and indicate at least the category of material held and the broad ground of the … Continue reading Regina v Davis; Regina v Rowe; Regina v Johnson: CA 10 Mar 1993
The Court gave guidance setting out recommended practice regarding any application for interim injunctive relief in civil proceedings to restrain the publication of information (referred to as an interim non-disclosure order). In particular guidance was provided as to ‘the proper approach to the general principle of open justice in respect of such applications’. Applications which … Continue reading Practice Guidance (Interim Non-disclosure Orders): 1 Jul 2011
The legislation at issue imposed ‘civil disabilities’ on Members of Parliament against whom allegations of bribery had been sustained, including the loss of their seats in Parliament. The question arose whether they had been punished. Held: Sir Douglas Menzies contrasted discuplinary and criminal proceedings. In the former category no offence was specified and no declaration … Continue reading Kariapper v Wijesinha: PC 1967
The Commission declared inadmissible a complaint that Standing Order 5 G 2B infringed Article 10. The Order precluded prisoners from contacting the media by telephone except in exceptional circumstances. The Standing Order satisfied the requirement that the interference with the applicant’s Article 10 rights should be ‘prescribed by law’. ‘the assessment of whether the interference … Continue reading Bamber v United Kingdom: ECHR 11 Sep 1997
When looking at a new court having a different name, the courts must ask the nature of the jurisdiction exercised, and test the method of appointment of judges for conformity with the constitution. It would be a travesty of the constitution if parliament established new bodies exercising similar functions but with different names and less … Continue reading Attorney General of Australia v The Queen and the Boilermakers’ Society of Australia; Kirby v The Queen and Boilermakers’ Society of Australia: PC 1957
The company sought to deduct from its trading profits a sum expended paying damages for personal injuries to a visitor to the taxpayer’s Inn. The claim had been rejected. Held: The company’s appeal failed. Lord Davey said: ‘I think that the payment of these damages was not money expended `for the purposes of the trade’. … Continue reading Strong and Co of Romsey Ltd v Woodifield: HL 30 Jul 1906
(Admissibility) The violation of the right to respect for their homes and family and private lives which was alleged by the applicants, arose because of the pollution of the area by dust caused by building works in the Docklands area. A distinction had been made between those applicants with a proprietary interest in the land … Continue reading Khatun v United Kingdom: ECHR 1 Jul 1998
The applicant suffered from metabolic myopathy and was 100 per cent disabled. He was allocated an apartment which he considered inadequate. He ceased paying rent for it, demanding that certain works be carried out to make it suitable for him to live in. He was evicted on the application of his public authority landlord following … Continue reading Marzari v Italy: ECHR 1999
The applicants were members of a parish of the Church of Sweden who complained of a violation of article 9 of the Convention because the Assembly of the Church of Sweden had prohibited the use of the liturgy of the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church in their parish. Held: At the relevant time the Church of Sweden … Continue reading Hautanemi v Sweden: ECHR 1996
Hudoc Judgment (Just satisfaction) Claim that an agreement has been reached rejected; Pecuniary damage – financial award; Non-pecuniary damage – financial award; Costs and expenses award – Convention proceedings Citations: 21893/93 Citing: See Also – Akdivar and Others v Turkey ECHR 16-Sep-1996 ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (abuse of process); Preliminary … Continue reading Akdivar And Others v Turkey: ECHR 1 Apr 1998
There is no rule of law against adoption of a child by a single person living within a homosexual relationship. The court must always look to the best interests of the child in question. The court recognised the couple as constituting a family: ‘The family in question comprises two women living together in lesbian relationship.’ … Continue reading In Re W (A Minor) (Adoption: Homosexual Adopter): FD 21 May 1997
Police’s Complete Immunity was Too Wide (Grand Chamber) A male teacher developed an obsession with a male pupil. He changed his name by deed poll to the pupil’s surname. He was required to teach at another school. The pupil’s family’s property was subjected to numerous acts of vandalism, which the police investigated and in respect … Continue reading Osman v The United Kingdom: ECHR 28 Oct 1998
The court was asked whether Turkey was answerable under the Convention for its acts in Northern Cyprus. Held: It was unnecessary to determine whether Turkey actually exercised detailed control over the policies and actions of the authorities of the TRNC. It was obvious from the fact that more than 30,000 Turkish military personnel were engaged … Continue reading Loizidou v Turkey (Merits): ECHR 18 Dec 1996
The claimants challenged as discriminatory the statutory requirement for landlords to verify the immigration status of potential tenants and land occupiers. Held: The challenge succeeded. Judges: Martin Spencer Citations: [2019] EWHC 452 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Human Rights Act 1998 4, Immigration Act 2014 20-37, European Convention on Human Rights 8 14, Equality Act 2010 … Continue reading Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: Admn 1 Mar 2019
The deceased was a prisoner known to be at risk of committing suicide. Whilst in police custody he hanged himself in his prison cell. The Commissioner accepted that he was in breach of his duty of care to the deceased, but not that that breach was caustive of the death by suicide. Held: Police and … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Reeves (Joint Administratix of The Estate of Martin Lynch, Deceased): HL 15 Jul 1999
The prisoner challenged the decision to place him in segregation under Prison Rule 43. Under rule 43(1) the initial power to segregate was given to ‘the governor’. The case arose from the fact that the governor of one prison had purported to authorise the segregation of a prisoner on his arrival at another prison to … Continue reading Regina v Deputy Governor of Parkhurst Prison, Ex parte Hague, Weldon v Home Office: HL 24 Jul 1991
The claimant sought damages for the losses it had suffered as a result of price fixing by the defendant companies in the vitamin market. The European Commission had already fined the defendant for its involvement. Held: In an action for breach of statutory duty the court can in appropriate circumstances make a restitutionary award, that … Continue reading Devenish Nutrition Ltd and others v Sanofi-Aventis SA (France) and others: ChD 19 Oct 2007
Explanation of Medical Risks essential The plaintiff alleged negligence in the failure by a surgeon to disclose or explain to her the risks inherent in the operation which he had advised. Held: The appeal failed. A mentally competent patient has an absolute right to refuse to consent to medical treatment for any reason, rational or … Continue reading Sidaway v Board of Governors of the Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital: HL 21 Feb 1985
Local government organisations such as the applicant commune exercising public functions are ‘governmental organisations’ as opposed to ‘non-governmental organisations’ within the meaning of article 25 of the Convention, with the result that the commune which was complaining that proceedings for the expropriation of land for a military training area were in breach of their rights … Continue reading Rothenthurm Commune v Switzerland: ECHR 14 Dec 1988
The applicants were denied the earnings-related element of their pensions while they were in prison, pursuant to s.113(1)(d) of the 1992 Act which I have set out. They claimed violations both of Article 1P, and of Article 14 read with Article 1P. The Commission declared the complaints inadmissible. It held (referring to Gaygusuz) that the … Continue reading Szrabjer and Clarke v United Kingdom: ECHR 17 Jun 1998
The Commission was a creation of statute, and had not been given power to intervene in judicial proceedings. The coroner was investigating deaths at Omagh from a terrorist bombing, and the Commission sought to intervene. The Act should not be read restrictively, but nor could provisions be read into it which did not exist at … Continue reading Regina v Greater Belfast Coroner, ex parte Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: CANI 11 May 2001
It was not normally necessary for magistrates to excuse themselves from further involvement in a case after making preliminary rulings on a request for public immunity certificates. The purpose of that ex parte hearing was to ensure the protection of the defendant. Indeed knowing of that original application might allow the defendant greater protection. The … Continue reading Regina (Director of Public Prosecutions) v Acton Youth Court: QBD 21 Jun 2001
The powers given to local authorities over children in care and the arrangements for contact are compliant with the human rights act. The balancing act between the child’s best interests and those of the mother had been correctly applied. Citations: Times 22-Jun-2000 Statutes: Human Rights Act 1998 Children, Local Government, Human Rights Updated: 08 April … Continue reading In Re F (Minors) (Care Proceedings): Contact): FD 22 Jun 2000
The police were asked by shopkeepers concerned about shoplifting, for photographs of thieves so that the staff would recognise them. The police provided photographs including one of the claimant taken in custody. The traders were told only to show them to staff. Held: A duty of confidence could arise when the police photographed a suspect … Continue reading Hellewell v Chief Constable of Derbyshire: QBD 13 Jan 1995
Dismissed Citations: [2019] UKFTT 2018 – 0149 (GRC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Human Rights Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Information Updated: 06 April 2022; Ref: scu.633812
Statute’s Mischief May be Inspected The House considered limitations upon them in reading statements made in the Houses of Parliament when construing a statute. Held: It is rare that a statute can be properly interpreted without knowing the legislative object. The courts may look outside a statute in order to identify the ‘mischief’ Parliament was … Continue reading Black-Clawson International Ltd v Papierwerke Waldhof Aschaffenburg AG: HL 5 Mar 1975
labour exploitation – human trafficking – modern slavery – domestic servitude – minimum wage – domestic worker – employee rights -Immigration and Nationality Directorate – terms and conditions – wage deductions – special hearing arrangements – civil procedure – National Minimum Wage Act 1998 – family worker exemption – UK Visa – ECHR Art. 6 … Continue reading Ajayi v Abu and Another (Labour Exploitation : Human Trafficking : Modern Slavery): QBD 31 Jul 2017
Citations: [1998] ECHR 57 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Human Rights Citing: See Also – Mentes and Others v Turkey ECHR 28-Nov-1997 ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (non-exhaustion); Not necessary to examine Art. 5; Not necessary to examine Art. 6; Violation of Art. 13; No violation of Art. 14; No . . Lists … Continue reading Mentes and Others v Turkey: ECHR 24 Jul 1998
Reference to Parliamentary Papers behind Statute The inspector sought to tax the benefits in kind received by teachers at a private school in having their children educated at the school for free. Having agreed this was a taxable emolument, it was argued as to whether the taxable benefit was the cost to the employer, or … Continue reading Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart: HL 26 Nov 1992
An horrific rape had taken place. The defendant was arrested on a separate matter, tried and acquitted. He was tried under a false ID. His DNA sample should have been destroyed but wasn’t. Had his identity been known, his DNA could have been kept because of other convictions. He was arrested for the rape after … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No. 3 of 1999: HL 14 Dec 2000
Smartphone App Contractors did so as Workers The court was asked whether the employment tribunal was entitled to find that drivers whose work was arranged through Uber’s smartphone application work for Uber under workers’ contracts and so qualify for the national minimum wage, paid annual leave and other workers’ rights; or whether, as Uber contended, … Continue reading Uber Bv and Others v Aslam and Others: SC 19 Feb 2021
The applicant was refused a grant of parental leave allowance in 1989. At that time parental leave allowance was available only to mothers. The applicant complained that this violated article 14 taken together with article 8. Held: The application was dismissed. the court noted that, as society moved towards a more equal sharing of responsibilities … Continue reading Petrovic v Austria: ECHR 27 Mar 1998
Several lone parents challenged the benefits cap, saying that it was discriminatory. Held: (Hale, Kerr LL dissenting) The parents’ appeals failed. The legislation had a clear impact on lone parents and their children. The intention was to encourage claimants back into work. It was said that thus contradicted the other policy of providing no free … Continue reading DA and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 15 May 2019
