LHM -v- London Borough of Hounslow (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-003863

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

1 June 2026

Before:

Richard Wright KC
sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge

Between:

The King
on the application of
LHM
(by his litigation friend, Lathangie Baskaran)
(Claimant)

-v-

London Borough of Hounslow
(Defendant)

Order

Notification of Judge’s Decision (CPR 54.11, 54.12)

Following consideration of the documents filed by the Claimant, the Defendant’s Acknowledgement of Service and Summary Grounds of Defence

ORDER BY RICHARD WRIGHT KC SITTING AS A DEPUTY HIGH COURT JUDGE

  1. Permission is granted on all grounds.
  2. Lathangie Baskaran is appointed as the Claimant’s litigation friend.
  3. The Claim will be transferred to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber for a fact-finding hearing to determine the Claimant’s age.
  4. The Defendant shall immediately treat the Claimant as a child and provide him with accommodation and support under sections 17 and 20 Children Act 1989 until the Claim is determined or until further order.
  5. The Defendant will pay the Claimants legally aided costs up to the permission stage to be assessed on the standard basis if not agreed.
  6. 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 LHM.

(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.

OBSERVATIONS AND REASONS

(1) On considering all of the submissions and supporting material. I am unable to conclude that the Claimant’s case could not succeed in a contested factual hearing and accordingly grant permission. The appropriate course is to transfer the case to the Upper Tribunal for a fact-finding hearing.

(2) Permission having been granted and the case transferred and the Defendant should therefore bear the Claimants reasonable costs up to the permission stage.

(3) I have appointed the Claimant’s solicitor as his litigation friend.

(4) I have granted interim relief as sought on the basis that I am satisfied that there is a serious issue to be tried and the balance of convenience favours the grant of relief. A protective precautionary approach is appropriate.

(5) Anonymity is appropriate and a justifiable minimal derogation from the open justice principle.

Signed: Richard Wright KC

Date: 1st June 2026