Tribunal decisions

The decision

Upper Tribunal
(Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Appeal Number: PA/09535/2019

THE IMMIGRATION ACTS

At Field House
Decision & Reasons Promulgated
22nd November 2021
On 26th November 2021

Before

UPPER TRIBUNAL JUDGE BRUCE

Between

HM
(anonymity order made)
Appellant

And

The Secretary of State for the Home Department
Respondent

DECISION AND REASONS
RULE 43 TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE (UPPER TRIBUNAL) RULES 2008

1. The Appellant is a national of Ethiopia. He asserts a well-founded fear of persecution in Ethiopia for reasons of his political opinion.

2. The Appellant was refused asylum by the Respondent on the 24th September 2019. He lodged an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal, such appeal being dismissed by First-tier Tribunal Judge Phull on the 21st January 2020. The Appellant applied for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, which was granted by First-tier Tribunal Judge Scott-Baker on the 3rd March 2020.

3. On the 23rd March 2020 the United Kingdom went into 'lockdown' in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. On that date the President, Mr Justice P. Lane, issued the President's Guidance Note No 1 2020: Arrangements During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Following that guidance, Upper Tribunal Judge C. Lane made directions in this case, expressing a provisional view that the question of whether the decision of Judge Phull contained an error of law, and so should be set aside, could be determined without a hearing. Judge Lane invited the parties to make written submissions.

4. The Respondent made written submissions on the 14th May 2020 and asserted that she considered that this was a matter which could be determined on the papers. On the 15th May 2020 the Appellant's representatives made further written submissions (in addition to their grounds) and invited the Tribunal to remit the matter to the First-tier Tribunal. The letter concluded "we agree that this can be decided without a hearing".

5. On the 13th July 2020 Upper Tribunal Judge Coker made a decision 'on the papers' under Rule 34 of the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 ("the Rules"). She dismissed the appeal.

6. On the 20th November 2020 Mr Justice Fordham handed down his decision in JCWI v The President UTIAC and the Lord Chancellor [2020] EWHC 3103 (Admin), following which the Appellant's representatives requested that the matter be relisted for an oral hearing to determine whether the decision of Judge Phull should be set aside.

7. On the 22nd October 2021 the matter came before me to consider whether the decision of Judge Coker should be set aside under Rule 43 of the Rules. On that date I issued directions to the parties, asking them to consider the guidance given in EP (Albania) & Ors (rule 43 decisions; setting aside) [2021] UKUT 233 (IAC), and inviting them to make submissions on whether the decision of Judge Coker should be set aside. I directed that any such submissions should be received within 14 days.

8. No such submissions have been received.

9. Having had regard to the history of this matter, in particular the decisions of Judges Phull, C. Lane and Coker, the decisions in the JCWI case and EP (Albania), I conclude that the decision of Judge Coker should not be set aside.

10. I do so for the following reasons:

i) It is clear that the Note and Directions made by Judge C. Lane on the 29th April 2020 were issued in accordance with the Presidential Guidance Note subsequently found to be unlawful in the JCWI case;

ii) That does not however mean that any decision taken pursuant to those directions automatically falls to be set aside for procedural unfairness;

iii) In this case both parties expressly consented to the matter being determined on the papers. In EP the panel held that such consent ordinarily provides strong support for the conclusion that a decision to proceed without a hearing was lawful;

iv) The Appellant has not identified any procedural unfairness in the decision of Judge Coker, and having read her decision, I am unable to find any. Judge Coker plainly had regard to the Appellant's case, as expressed in the grounds of appeal and the submissions of the 15th May 2020. Importantly, no submissions have been made to the effect that the decision could have been otherwise, had an oral hearing been convened.

11. The decision of Judge Coker is therefore to stand.

Upper Tribunal Judge Bruce
22nd November 2021