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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-001563

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

In the matter of an application for judicial review

7 April 2026

Before:

The Hon. Ms Justice Obi

Between:

VDA

-v-

Secretary of State for the Home Department

On an application by the Claimant for urgent relief
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

Order

  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 VDA.

    (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.
  1. Prohibitory injunction:

    (a) The Claimant shall not be removed from the United Kingdom by the Defendant until the final determination of this claim for judicial review or further order of the Court, whichever is sooner.

    (b) The Defendant may apply to vary or discharge paragraph 2(a) above, any such application to be served on each party.

    ***THIS IS A PROHIBITORY INJUNCTION. BREACH MAY GIVE RISE TO PROCEEDINGS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT. IT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS SET ASIDE BY A COURT, EVEN IF AN APPLICATION TO VARY OR DISCHARGE IT HAS BEEN MADE UNDER PARAGRAPH 2(b) ABOVE***
  1. Liaison with Common Issues Hearing

    (a) The Claimant shall file and serve proposed directions and any written representations on further interim relief within 10 working days of judgment following the Common Issues Hearing on 28 April 2026.

    (b) The Defendant may respond, if so advised, within 7 working days thereafter.

    (c) Permission and the timetable for any final hearing will be determined by a High Court Judge on the papers as soon as possible thereafter.
  1. Costs

    Costs reserved.

Reasons

i. Anonymity is justified because the Claimant is an asylum seeker and the material before the Court contains sensitive personal and medical information, giving rise to a real risk of harm if identified.

ii. There is a serious issue to be tried. Consistent with AYA, the policy challenges do not weigh heavily in the balance at this stage. However, the Claimant alleges prior mistreatment in France and presents with vulnerabilities recognised in the Rule 35 material and by the Defendant, creating a real—though not high—risk of harm if removed before the claim can be determined. The Common Issues Hearing is imminent, and maintaining the status quo for this short period causes limited prejudice to the Defendant. In these circumstances, the balance of convenience favours preserving the position pending determination of the claim.