ALB -v- Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and another (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2024-LON-004189

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

In the matter of an application for judicial review

24 December 2024

Before:

the Hon. Mr Justice Chamberlain

Between:

The King
on the application of
ALB
(Claimant)

-v-

(1) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
(2) Secretary of State for Defence
(Defendants)

and

ALB2,
ALB3,
ALB4
and
ALB5
(Interested Parties)

Order

On an application by the claimant for urgent consideration, expedition and directions

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the claimant

ORDER by the Hon. Mr Justice Chamberlain:

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and the Court’s inherent jurisdiction:
(i) the claimant’s and interested parties’ names are to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and
(ii) the claimant and interested parties are to be referred to orally and in writing as “ALB, ALB2, ALB3, ALB4 and ALB5”.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the claimant or interested parties in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

(c) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
(i) the parties must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the claimant or interested parties;
(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the claimant or interested parties, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;
(iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.

(d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.

  1. Abridgement of time and expedition:

(a) The Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service (CPR 54.8) must be filed and served by 4pm on 10 January 2025.

(b) Any Reply from the Claimant (CPR 54.8A) must be filed and served by 4pm on 17 January 2025

(c) The papers are to be referred immediately thereafter to a judge for a decision whether to grant permission to apply for judicial review.

REASONS

Anonymity: There is evidence that naming the Claimant and/or members of his family will increase the risk they faced by the interested parties in Afghanistan. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1.

Abridgement of time/expedition: There are good reasons why this claim should be considered quickly. However, the timetable suggested by the claimant is unrealistically short, given the likely unavailability of personnel during the vacation.

Signed: Mr Justice Chamberlain
Dated: 24/12/25