MPL and others -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case numbers: AC-2026-LON-001131
(to be considered with
AC-2026-LON-001143,
AC-2026-LON-001144
and AC-2026-LON-001145)

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

18 August 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mr Justice Kimblin

Between:

The King
on the application of
(1) MPL
(2) NEH
(3) OVR
(4) PTT
(Claimants)

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence
(Defendant)

Order

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

Following consideration of the documents filed by the Claimant, the Summary Grounds of Defence and the Reply

ORDER BY THE HON. MR JUSTICE KIMBLIN

  1. Permission to apply for judicial review: Permission is granted on all grounds.
  2. Extension of time: the Claimant has permission to rely on its Reply and additional evidence out of time.
  3. 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 Claimants’ names are to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and

ii. the Claimants are to be referred to orally and in writing as:

  1. ‘MPL’ (AC-2026-LON-001131)
  2. ‘NEH’ (AC-2026-LON-001143)
  3. ‘OVR’ (AC-2026-LON-001144)
  4. ‘PTT’ (AC-2026-LON-001145)

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimants or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants 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 Claimants;

ii. if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants, 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. Case Management Directions:

(a) The Defendant must, within 35 days of the date of service of this Order, file and serve (i) Detailed Grounds for contesting the claim or supporting it on additional grounds and (ii) any written evidence to be relied on.

(b) The Defendant may comply with sub-paragraph (a)(i) above by filing and serving a document which states that its Summary Grounds are to stand as the Detailed Grounds required by CPR 54.14.

(c) Any application by the Claimant to serve evidence in reply must be filed and served, together with a copy of that evidence, within 21 days of the date on which the Defendant serves evidence pursuant to (a) above.

(d) The parties must agree the contents of the hearing bundle. An electronic version of the bundle must be prepared and lodged, in accordance with the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide Chapter 21 and the Guidance on the Administrative Court website, not less than 28 days before the date of the substantive hearing. The parties must, if requested by the Court, lodge 2 hard-copy versions of the hearing bundle.

(e) The Claimant must file and serve a Skeleton Argument (maximum 25 pages), complying with CPR 54 PD para. 15 and the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide paras 20.1 to 20.3, not less than 21 days before the date of the substantive hearing.

(f) The Defendant must file and serve a Skeleton Argument (maximum 25 pages), complying with CPR 54 PD para. 15 and the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide paras 20.1 to 20.3, not less than 14 days before the date of the substantive hearing.

(g) The parties must agree the contents of a bundle containing the authorities to be referred to at the hearing. An electronic version of the bundle must be prepared in accordance with the Guidance on the Administrative Court website. The parties must, if requested by the Court, prepare a hard-copy version of the authorities bundle. The electronic version of the bundle and if requested, the hard copy version of the bundle, must be lodged with the Court not less than 7 days before the date of the substantive hearing.

(h) The time estimate for the substantive hearing is 1 day. If either party considers that this time estimate should be varied, they must inform the court as soon as possible.

OBSERVATIONS AND REASONS

(1) The claims raise issues which merit a hearing.

(2) I have not ordered expedition. That does not mean that I have not carefully considered the Claimants’ present circumstances. However, I have to consider the totality of cases which this Court must decide, including other relocation cases. The Court is aware of the relevant circumstances and it is better that the Court manages cases of particular type within its list rather than making a specific order for expedition of a case such as this one.

(3) It is plain that this is an appropriate case for anonymity because the Claimants are at risk of serious harm.

(4) There are other cases in progress on related issues. The parties are reminded to keep their cases under review.

(5) The parties are invited to communicate with each other on sensible directions for the efficient management of the cases and to produce draft consent order(s) for approval if necessary.

Signed Mr Justice Kimblin

Date 18th August 2026