R (on the applications of Mahmoud Baiai & Izabela Trzcinska, Leonard Bigoku & Agollo Melek Tilki) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; and Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (Intervener)

The High Court considered the compatibility with the European Convention of Human Rights of Government rules requiring persons subject to immigration control in the UK to obtain permission from the Secretary of State if they wished to enter into a civil marriage in the UK. The Court ruled that the regime was incompatible with Article 12 and Article 14 of the Convention, and made a declaration of incompatibility. Richard Drabble QC appeared for the Intervener. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4894544.stm