R -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtCivilHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON-000390

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

21 March 2024

Before:

Mr Justice Johnson

Between:

R (on the application of MZH)

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence

Order

Upon the Claimant’s N244 Application dated 14 March 2025

And Upon considering the papers filed by the parties

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

Anonymity

  1. The Claimant shall hereinafter be referred to in these proceedings as “MZH” (“the cipher”).
  2. The claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not to be disclosed in any proceedings in open court.
  3. There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the claimant by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the cipher.
  4. Pursuant to s.11 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.
  5. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
    (a) The parties must, when filing any statement of case, also file a redacted copy of that statement of case omitting the name, address and any other information which could lead to the identification of the claimant.  
    (b) Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4(C)(6), no non-party may obtain an unredacted copy of any statement of case.
  6. Any person affected by paragraph 1 of this order has liberty to apply to set aside or vary paragraphs 1-5 of this order. Any such application must be made on notice to the parties.

Additional ground of claim

  1. The Claimant is granted permission to file and rely on the Additional Ground for Judicial Review.
  2. The Defendant has permission to amend the summary ground of defence, or to file supplemental summary grounds of defence, to address the additional ground. Any such amended or supplemental grounds of defence must be filed and served by 4pm on 7 April 2025.

Decision on permission to claim judicial review

  1. The papers shall be put back before Johnson J, or an alternative judge nominated by the judge in charge of the administrative court, after 7 April 2025 (or, if before 7 April 2025, the defendant files summary or additional grounds in accordance with paragraph 8, once the defendant does so).

Costs

  1. Costs reserved.

Approved by Mr Justice Johnson
Dated this 21st day of March 2025