SECOND SECTION
PARTIAL DECISION
AS TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF
Application nos. 18904/09, 18914/09, 21320/09, 21333/09, 21353/09, 21362/09, 21372/09, 21384/09, 21386/09, 21394/09, 21399/09, 21775/09, 21778/09, 21780/09, 21790/09, 21800/09, 21819/09, 21828/09, 21834/09, 23991/09, 23992/09, 23993/09, 23994/09, 23995/09, 23996/09, 23997/09, 23998/09, 23999/09, 24000/09, 24001/09, 24002/09, 24003/09, 24004/09, 24005/09, 24006/09, 24007/09, 24008/09, 24009/09, 24010/09, 24011/09, 24012/09, 24013/09, 24014/09, 24015/09 and 24016/09
against Turkey
The European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting on 3 November 2009 as a Chamber composed of:
Françoise Tulkens, President,
Ireneu Cabral Barreto,
Danutė Jočienė,
András Sajó,
Nona Tsotsoria,
Işıl Karakaş,
Kristina Pardalos, judges,
and Sally Dollé, Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above applications lodged on 19 February 2009,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
THE FACTS
The applicants, whose names and dates of birth are set out in the appendix, are Turkish nationals. They are represented before the Court by Mr C.K. Öner and Ms F. Esenyel, lawyers practising in Istanbul.
The facts of the case, as submitted by the applicants, may be summarised as follows.
On 13 March 1996 the authority of a stock broker firm (Yener Kaya Menkul Değerler A.Ş) to operate in the stock exchange was annulled. The firm was managing the equity securities of the applicants at the relevant time.
On 15 May 1998 the firm was declared bankrupt. Following the insolvency proceedings, the exact amounts of its debts to creditors were determined in 2005.
On different dates in January 2005, the applicants had recourse to the Capital Markets Board (the Board), seeking compensation for some of their losses in accordance with Law no. 4487.
On 3 March 2005 the Board calculated their loss in a less favourable way than they had asked, relying on a leading decision it had given in 2002.
Between 7 and 23 March 2005 (in application no. 24014/09 on 24 August 2005), the applicants initiated administrative proceedings for the annulment of the Board’s decision of 2005 and the leading decision of 2002.
On 1 May 2006 the 13th Chamber of the Supreme Administrative Court, dealing with the cases as a first instance court, set aside both decisions of the Board in application no. 21399/09. Between May and September 2006, the Chamber gave the same judgment in the other applications, merely mentioning its conclusion of 1 May 2006.
On 31 May 2007 the Plenary Supreme Administrative Court (Administrative Chambers) quashed the judgment in application no. 21399/09, having found the Board’s original decisions to have been lawful and not in contradiction with Law no. 4487. On the same date it also overturned the remaining judgments with reference to its first decision.
On 27 March 2008 the rectification requests introduced by the applicants were dismissed by the Plenary Supreme Administrative Court (Administrative Chambers).
According to the information in the case files, the cases are still pending before the competent Chamber.
THE LAW
1. In view of the similarity of the applications, both as regards fact and law, the Court deems it appropriate to join them and thus examine them together.
2. The applicants complain under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention that the administrative proceedings have not been concluded within a reasonable time. They submit that the period to be taken into account starts with the broker’s bankruptcy.
The Court considers that the complaint should be examined in two parts.
As to the length of the administrative proceedings, the Court notes that they have lasted approximately four years and eight months (in 44 applications) and four years and three months (in the application no. 24014/09) and are not final yet, before one level of jurisdiction, acting first in the chamber formation and then in its plenary capacity (see, a contrario, Aras v. Turkey, no. 1895/05, §§ 8-12 and 23, 17 February 2009, in which the Court considered that there were two judicial instances. In comparison with the present application, in the mentioned case, the domestic decision had been final at the time of lodging).
The Court considers that it cannot, on the basis of the case files, determine the admissibility of this complaint and that it is therefore necessary, in accordance with Rule 54 § 2 (b) of the Rules of Court, to give notice of it to the respondent Government.
Concerning the length of the bankruptcy proceedings, the Court notes that they were completed in 2005. It follows that this complaint falls outside the six-month time-limit and must be rejected pursuant to Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention.
3. The applicants also contend under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention that the administrative proceedings were unfair in that no hearing was held, the arguments of the Board were favoured and the decisions were not sufficiently reasoned.
The Court notes that the cases are still pending before the domestic court. Therefore, these complaints are premature and must be rejected for non‑exhaustion of domestic remedies pursuant to Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention (see, for example, Koç v. Turkey (dec.), no. 36686/07, 26 February 2008).
4. Finally, the applicants claim under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 that their property rights were breached as a result of the decisions of the domestic courts.
The Court reiterates that the proceedings have not been finalised in the domestic system. Thus, this complaint is also premature and must be rejected for non-exhaustion of domestic remedies pursuant to Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention.
For these reasons, the Court unanimously
Decides to join the applications;
Decides to adjourn the examination of the applicants’ complaint concerning the length of the administrative proceedings;
Declares the remainder of the applications inadmissible.
Sally DolléFrançoise Tulkens
RegistrarPresident
APPENDIX
Appli-
cation
no.
Name of the applicants
and date of birth
Date of adminis-
trative
cases
Date of the first instance court’s (13th Chamber of the Supreme Administrative Court) judgment and file no.
Date of the Plenary Supreme Administrative Court (Administrative Chambers) decision upon appeal and file no.
Date of the Plenary Supreme Administrative Court (Administrative Chambers) decision upon rectification and file no.
18904/09
Mr Mahmut Bacak
26/7/1947
23/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/8992 E 2006/2022 K
31/5/2007
2006/2741 E 2007/1455 K
27/3/2008
2007/2793 E 2008/673 K
18914/09
Mr Metin Can
24/1/1962
14/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/8986 E 2006/2025 K
31/5/2007
2006/2785 E 2007/1475 K
27/3/2008
2007/2810 E 2008/689 K
21320/09
Mr Celal Özdemir
1937
10/3/2005
22/5/2006
2005/8988 E 2006/2213 K
31/5/2007
2006/2745 E 2007/1489 K
27/3/2008
2007/2811 E 2008/690 K
21333/09
Mr Erden Taman
19/5/1957
Ms Canan Taman
13/10/1962
23/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1559 E 2006/2717 K
31/5/2007
2006/2772 E 2007/1519 K
27/3/2008
2007/2777 E 2008/658 K
21353/09
Mr Mahmut Reşat İnal
16/1/1958
18/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1250 E 2006/2716 K
31/5/2007
2006/2774 E 2007/1505 K
27/3/2008
2007/2757 E 2008/638 K
21362/09
Mr İsmail Turgut Kıvanç
2/7/1957
9/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/1893 E 2006/3617 K
31/5/2007
2006/3687 E 2007/1501 K
27/3/2008
2007/2755 E 2008/636 K
21372/09
Mr Fazıl Ekim
15/2/1967
9/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/2236 E 2006/3597 K
31/5/2007
2006/3670 E 2007/1467 K
27/3/2008
2007/2765 E 2008/646 K
21384/09
Mr Bora Büyüksağnak
8/1/1967
10/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/9534 E 2006/2027 K
31/5/2007
2006/2747 E 2007/1473 K
27/3/2008
2007/2801 E 2008/680 K
21386/09
Mr Dursun Ateş
1/1/1943
18/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1574 E 2006/2732 K
31/5/2007
2006/2761 E 2007/1506 K
27/3/2008
2007/2787 E 2008/667 K
21394/09
Mr Mazlum Çöpür
1/1/1961
10/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1254 E 2006/2733 K
31/5/2007
2006/2780 E 2007/1453 K
27/3/2008
2007/2797 E 2008/676 K
21399/09
Mr Sabri Oğuz Argana
3/5/1968
23/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/7700 E 2006/2034 K
31/5/2007
2006/2749 E 2007/1307 K
27/3/2008
2007/2781 E 2008/617 K
21775/09
Mr Ünal Öker
3/5/1966
23/3/2005
22/5/2006
2006/795 E 2006/2211 K
31/5/2007
2006/2787 E 2007/1482 K
27/3/2008
2007/2766 E 2008/647 K
21778/09
Mr Selim Ay
30/6/1972
9/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1119 E 2006/2718 K
31/5/2007
2006/2767 E 2007/1495 K
27/3/2008
2007/2749 E 2008/630 K
21780/09
Mr Özhan Maraton
10/1/1942
7/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1255 E 2006/2726 K
31/5/2007
2006/2742 E 2007/1490 K
27/3/2008
2007/2756 E 2008/637 K
21790/09
Mr Hulusi Sam
21/5/1958
14/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3153 E 2006/3602 K
31/5/2007
2006/3672 E 2007/1515 K
27/3/2008
2007/2805 E 2008/684 K
21800/09
Ms Melahat Özdemir
5/2/1956
23/3/2005
22/5/2006
2005/9006 E 2006/2210 K
31/5/2007
2006/2790 E 2007/1477 K
27/3/2008
2007/2817 E 2008/696 K
21819/09
Mr Hacı Bölen
9/9/1958
9/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/7996 E 2006/2023 K
31/5/2007
2006/2759 E 2007/1487 K
27/3/2008
2007/2813 E 2008/692 K
21828/09
Mr Kenan Küçük
5/1/1968
9/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/9011 E 2006/2029 K
31/5/2007
2006/2775 E 2007/1484 K
27/3/2008
2007/2744 E 2008/625 K
21834/09
Mr Hasan Ceyhan
11/1/1947
7/3/2005
26/6/2006
2005/9005 E 2006/2713 K
31/5/2007
2006/2778 E 2007/1516 K
27/3/2008
2007/2791 E 2008/671 K
23991/09
Mr Adil Akbaş
9/9/1968
10/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/2248 E 2006/3601 K
31/5/2007
2006/3692 E 2007/1523 K
27/3/2008
2007/2773 E 2008/654 K
23992/09
Mr Sami Sevindik
1/1/1960
14/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/9537 E 2006/2031 K
31/5/2007
2006/2757 E 2007/1456 K
27/3/2008
2007/2778 E 2008/659 K
23993/09
Ms Fatma Nermin Ertürk
21/7/1944
18/3/2005
22/5/2006
2005/9017 E 2006/2207 K
31/5/2007
2006/2777 E 2007/1510 K
27/3/2008
2007/2815 E 2008/694 K
23994/09
Ms Vildan Savaşer
1/1/1937
7/3/2005
26/6/2006
2005/9003 E 2006/2720 K
31/5/2007
2006/2746 E 2007/1472 K
27/3/2008
2007/2752 E 2008/633 K
23995/09
Mr İsmail Yıldız
10/5/1964
10/3/2005
26/6/2006
2005/8985 E 2006/2722 K
31/5/2007
2006/2755 E 2007/1458 K
27/3/2008
2007/2814 E 2008/693 K
23996/09
Mr Ziya Sakız
27/4/1959
23/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/8994 E 2006/2032 K
31/5/2007
2006/2752 E 2007/1517 K
27/3/2008
2007/2780 E 2008/661 K
23997/09
Ms Semiha Öztürk
1951
9/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3154 E 2006/3609 K
31/5/2007
2006/3677 E 2007/1511 K
27/3/2008
2007/2804 E 2008/683 K
23998/09
Mr Özcan Tonguroğlu
27/2/1959
18/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3788 E 2006/3615 K
31/5/2007
2006/3683 E 2007/1496 K
27/3/2008
2007/2764 E 2008/645 K
23999/09
Mr Bekir Petek
12/5/1963
9/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/7720 E 2006/2018 K
31/5/2007
2006/2768 E 2007/1454 K
27/3/2008
2007/2745 E 2008/626 K
24000/09
Mr Hüseyin Aydın
1/3/1954
9/3/2005
22/5/2006
2005/9012 E 2006/2215 K
31/5/2007
2006/2744 E 2007/1462 K
27/3/2008
2007/2798 E 2008/677 K
24001/09
Mr Ünal Erdem
25/5/1941
10/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1561 E 2006/2715 K
31/5/2007
2006/2788 E 2007/1308 K
27/3/2008
2007/2751 E 2008/632 K
24002/09
Mr Baki Akkaya
2/1/1969
10/3/2005
1/5/2006
2005/8989 E 2006/2020 K
31/5/2007
2006/2750 E 2007/1504 K
27/3/2008
2007/2809 E 2008/688 K
24003/09
Ms Kadriye Serbest
1/1/1961
10/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1252 E 2006/2731 K
31/5/2007
2006/2760 E 2007/1478 K
27/3/2008
2007/2783 E 2008/663 K
24004/09
Mr Latif Yanar
3/3/1958
10/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1125 E 2006/2719 K
31/5/2007
2006/2781 E 2007/1494 K
27/3/2008
2007/2790 E 2008/670 K
24005/09
Mrs Fatma Perihan Özsoyoğlu
12/3/1946
18/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/1996 E 2006/3600 K
31/5/2007
2006/3685 E 2007/1498 K
27/3/2008
2007/2779 E 2008/660 K
24006/09
Mr Erbil Ünveren
9/2/1950
23/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1251 E 2006/2712 K
31/5/2007
2006/2763 E 2007/1509 K
27/3/2008
2007/2789 E 2008/669 K
24007/09
Mr Ömer Faruk Oduncu
21/12/1961
10/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/1974 E 2006/3612 K
31/5/2007
2006/3682 E 2007/1525 K
27/3/2008
2007/275 9 E 2008/640 K
24008/09
Mr Yaşar Gücüyenen
4/3/1958
9/3/2005
26/6/2006
2006/1341 E 2006/2729 K
31/5/2007
2006/2779 E 2007/1483 K
27/3/2008
2007/2769 E 2008/650 K
24009/09
Ms Kadriye Özdemir
15/10/1942
Ms Özden Özdemir
6/10/1962
Mr Önder Özdemir
10/5/1961
9/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3786 E 2006/3608 K
31/5/2007
2006/3680 E 2007/1514 K
27/3/2008
2007/2763 E 2008/644 K
24010/09
Mr Ali Rıza Mumoğlu
10/1/1948
14/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3782 E 2006/3618 K
31/5/2007
2006/3689 E 2007/1469 K
27/3/2008
2007/2748 E 2008/629 K
24011/09
Mr Hanifi Kardaş
9/11/1951
7/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/1992 E 2006/3605 K
31/5/2007
2006/3694 E 2007/1522 K
27/3/2008
2007/2762 E 2008/643 K
24012/09
Mr Murat Daşkın
13/6/1966
14/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3540 E 2006/3598 K
31/5/2007
2006/3691 E 2007/1465 K
27/3/2008
2007/2768 E 2008/649 K
24013/09
Mr İlhan Bakan
7/9/1945
10/3/2005
22/5/2006
2005/10001 E 2006/2206 K
31/5/2007
2006/2764 E 2007/1460 K
27/3/2008
2007/2774 E 2008/655 K
24014/09
Mr Mert Alp Aykutlu
4/9/1971
24/8/2005
1/5/2006
2005/8962 E 2006/2024 K
31/5/2007
2006/2784 E 2007/1459 K
27/3/2008
2007/2808 E 2008/687 K
24015/09
Mr Hüsnü Özvardar
20/2/1967
9/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/3151 E 2006/3604 K
31/5/2007
2006/3675 E 2007/1513 K
27/3/2008
2007/2786 E 2008/666 K
24016/09
Ms Gülsüme Kalender
29/10/1959
7/3/2005
25/9/2006
2006/1885 E 2006/3616 K
31/5/2007
2006/3684 E 2007/1497 K
27/3/2008
2007/2767 E 2008/648 K
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy