HLB -v- The Secretary of State for the Home Department (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2026-LON-000174

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

24 April 2026

Before:

Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC,
Deputy High Court Judge

Between:

The King
on the application of
HLB

-v-

The Secretary of State for the Home Department

Order

On an application by the Claimant for an Order for Anonymity

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY MARCUS PILGERSTORFER KC, DEPUTY HIGH COURT JUDGE

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) and/or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and/or s. 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998:

(i) the Claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and

(ii) the Claimant is to be referred to orally and in writing as HLB.

(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 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;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, 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.

REASONS

(1) Anonymity: The Claimant is a recognised refugee found to have a well-founded fear of persecution in the home country. Close family members continue to reside in that country and there is a fear (which has been evidenced) that they will be harmed if information linking this claim to the Claimant is published. The claim also raises issues of the Claimant’s health and private and sensitive medical information will need to be considered. Whilst there is a strong public interest to be attached to open justice and rights protected by Art 10 ECHR, there are in my judgment compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice in paragraph 1.

Signed: Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC, DHCJ

Date: 24 April 2026