1
SILVER AND OTHERS v. THE UNITED KINGDOM JUGDMENT
In the case of Silver and others,
The European Court of Human Rights, sitting, in accordance with Article
43 (art. 43) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms ("the Convention") and the relevant provisions of
the Rules of Court, as a Chamber composed of the following judges:
Mr. G. WIARDA, President,
Mr. Thór VILHJÁLMSSON,
Mr. F. GÖLCÜKLÜ,
Mr. F. MATSCHER,
Mr. L.-E. PETTITI,
Sir Vincent EVANS,
Mr. C. RUSSO,
and also Mr. M.-A. EISSEN, Registrar, and Mr. H. PETZOLD, Deputy
Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 23 and 24 September 1982 and 24 and
25 February 1983,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the lastmentioned date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case of Silver and others was referred to the Court by the
European Commission of Human Rights ("the Commission"). The case
originated in seven applications (nos. 5947/72, 6205/73, 7052/75, 7061/75,
7107/75, 7113/75 and 7136/75) against the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland lodged with the Commission on various dates
between 1972 and 1975 by Mr. Reuben Silver, Mr. Clifford Dixon Noe,
Mrs. Judith Colne, Mr. James Henry Tuttle, Mr. Gary Cooper, Mr. Michael
McMahon and Mr. Desmond Roy Carne under Article 25 (art. 25) of the
Convention. The Commission ordered the joinder of the applications on 11
March 1977.
2. The Commission’s request was lodged with the registry of the Court
on 18 March 1981, within the period of three months laid down by Articles
32 § 1 and 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47). The request referred to Articles 44 and 48
(art. 44, art. 48) and to the declaration whereby the United Kingdom
recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court (Article 46) (art. 46).
The purpose of the request was to obtain a decision as to whether or not the
facts of the case disclosed a breach by the respondent State of its obligations
under Articles 6 § 1, 8 and 13 (art. 6-1, art. 8, art. 13).
Note by the registry: In the version of the Rules applicable when proceedings were
instituted. A revised version of the Rules of Court entered into force on 1 January 1983,
but only in respect of cases referred to the Court after that date.