Court refuses to grant injunction on COVID-19 Tribunal Practice Direction

The High Court refused an application by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) seeking an order for the withdrawal of provisions of the ‘Pilot Practice Direction: Contingency Arrangements in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal’ and associated guidance issued in response to the Coronavirus pandemic pending their claim for judicial review. The JCWI have brought their claim against the Senior President of Tribunals, the President of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and the Lord Chancellor, seeking to challenge provisions that immigration and asylum appeals in the Upper Tribunal will be “usually” be considered without a hearing. Mrs Justice Andrews dismissed the application. The case continues.

Jack Holborn appeared with Richard O’Brien for the Defendants.