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Tanganyika Law Society and Another v United Republic of Tanzania; Mtikila v United Republic of Tanzania (Application No. 009/2011; Application No. 011/2011) [2011] AfCHPR 7 (22 September 2011)
- Citation
- [2011] AfCHPR 7
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Akuffo VP, Eno R, Guindo J, Mutsinzi J, Ngoepe J, Niyungeko J, Orė J, Ouguergouz J, Ramadhani J, Tambala J, Thompson J
- Case number
- Application No. 009/2011 ; Application No. 011/2011
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Akuffo VP, Eno R, Guindo J, Mutsinzi J, Ngoepe J, Niyungeko J, Orė J, Ouguergouz J, Ramadhani J, Tambala J, Thompson J
- Case number
- Application No. 009/2011 ; Application No. 011/2011
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The Court determined that since both applications concern the same subject matter and respondent, a joinder is appropriate both in fact and in law. Exercising its discretion under Rule 54 of the Rules of Court, the Court ordered the consolidation of the two applications and all related pleadings, to ensure procedural efficiency and consistency in adjudication.
Court disposition
Applications joined by order of the Court.
Orders
- The applications and pleadings by the First and Second Applicants against the Respondent are joined.
- Henceforth, the application shall be known as: Applications 009 & 011 - Tanganyika Law Society and The Legal and Human Rights Centre and Reverend Christopher Mtikila v. The United Republic of Tanzania.
- All pleadings relating to the joined matters shall be served on all the parties.
02
Material facts
Parties
Tanganyika Law Society and the Legal and Human Rights Centre
ApplicantReverend Christopher Mtikila
ApplicantUnited Republic of Tanzania
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Joinder Order / Preliminary
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the two applications should be joined given the similarity of subject matter and respondent.
- 02
Whether joinder is appropriate in fact and in law under Rule 54 of the Rules of Court.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The applicants initiated separate proceedings against the same respondent concerning the same subject matter, implying that joinder would promote judicial efficiency and consistency.
- Respondent
- The respondent's arguments on joinder are not detailed in the order; the court acted on its own motion under Rule 54.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Rule 54 of the Rules of Court
The Court may, at any stage of the pleadings, order the joinder of interrelated cases and pleadings where it deems appropriate both in fact and in law.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The Court determined that since both applications concern the same subject matter and respondent, a joinder is appropriate both in fact and in law. Exercising its discretion under Rule 54 of the Rules of Court, the Court ordered the consolidation of the two applications and all related pleadings, to ensure procedural efficiency and consistency in adjudication.
Court disposition
Applications joined by order of the Court.
- The applications and pleadings by the First and Second Applicants against the Respondent are joined.
- Henceforth, the application shall be known as: Applications 009 & 011 - Tanganyika Law Society and The Legal and Human Rights Centre and Reverend Christopher Mtikila v. The United Republic of Tanzania.
- All pleadings relating to the joined matters shall be served on all the parties.
Source and reliance status
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
Judgment
AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE
الاتحاد الأقريني
UNIÃO AFRICANA
AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES
IN THE MATTERS OF
THE TANGANYIKA LAW SOCIETY AND THE LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE
V.
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
APPLICATION NO. 009/2011
AND
REVEREND CHRISTOPHER MTIKILA
V.
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
APPLICATION NO. 011/2011
ORDER
The Court composed of: Gérard NIYUNGEKO, President; Sophia A. B. Akuffo, Vice President; Jean MUTSINZI, Bernard M. NGOEPE, Modibo T. GUINDO, Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ, Duncan TAMBALA, Elsie N. THOMPSON and Sylvain ORE-Judges; and Robert ENO - Acting Registrar,
IN THE MATTERS OF
THE TANGANYIKA LAW SOCIETY AND THE LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE
V.
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
AND
REVEREND CHRISTOPHER MTIKILA
V.
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
After deliberations.
- 1. Having regard to the application dated $2^{nd}$ June, 2011 and received at the Registry of the Court on the same date, by which the Tanganvika Law Society and the Legal and Human Rights Centre (hereinafter referred to as the First Applicants) instituted proceedings against the United Republic of Tanzania (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent): - 2. Having regard to the application dated 10<sup>th</sup> June, 2011 and received at the Registry of the Court on the same date, by which Reverend Christopher Mtikila (hereinafter referred to as the Second Applicant) instituted proceedings against the Respondent;
$\mathcal{N}^{\mathfrak{S}_2}$
$\mathsf{R} \ell$
- 3. Having regard to Rule 54 of the Rules of Court, in accordance with which "The Court may, at any stage of the pleadings, either on its own volition or in response to an application by any of the parties, order the joinder of interrelated cases and pleadings where it deems appropriate both in fact and in law"; - 4. Noting that the subject matter and the defendant in the two cases are the same: - 5. Considering that a joinder is appropriate both in fact and in law;
The Court Orders:
- i. The joinder of the applications and pleadings by the First and Second Applicants against the Respondent. - ii. That, henceforth the application shall be known as: Applications 009 & 011 - Tanganyika Law Society and The Legal and Human Rights Centre and Reverend Christopher Mtikila v. The United Republic of Tanzania. - iii. That consequent upon the joinder of the two matters, all pleadings relating thereto shall be served on all the parties.
Done at Arusha, this twenty-second day of September, in the year Two Thousand and Eleven, in English and French, the English text being authoritative.
Signed:
HUMAN AND Gérard NIYUNGEKO, President Robert ENO, Acting Registrar 3
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