SECOND SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 27025/20
Halima DŽANKOVIĆ against Serbia
and 47 other applications
(see appended table)
The European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting on 25 August 2022 as a Committee composed of:
Jovan Ilievski, President,
Gilberto Felici,
Diana Sârcu, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above applications lodged on the date indicated in the appended table,
Having regard to the observations submitted by the respondent Government and the observations in reply submitted by the applicants,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
The list of applicants is set out in the appended table.
The applicants were represented by Ms R. Ćorović, a lawyer practising in Novi Pazar.
The applicants’ complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given against a socially/State-owned company were communicated to the Serbian Government (“the Government”) on 20 May 2021.
THE LAW
Joinder of the applicationsHaving regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision.
Complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given against a socially/State-owned company)The Government submitted that the final domestic decisions in the applicants’ favour had actually been enforced. They therefore suggested that the Court reject the applications as an abuse of the right of individual application in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention.
The applicants did not dispute that fact.
The Court reiterates that an application may be rejected as an abuse of the right of individual application within the meaning of Article 35 § 3 (a) of the Convention if, among other reasons, it was knowingly based on false information or if significant information and documents were deliberately omitted, either where they were known from the outset or where new significant developments occurred during the proceedings. Incomplete and therefore misleading information may amount to an abuse of the right of application, especially if the information in question concerns the very core of the case and no sufficient explanation is given for the failure to disclose that information (see Gross v. Switzerland [GC], no. 67810/10, § 28, ECHR 2014; S.A.S. v. France [GC], no. 43835/11, § 67, ECHR 2014; and Nikolić and Others v. Serbia (dec.) [Committee], nos. 48162/18 and 8 others, 21 January 2021).
Turning to the present case, the Court observes that between 24 August and 15 December 2020 the sums awarded in the domestic decisions at issue were paid by the State in accordance with domestic law (see Stevanović and Others v. Serbia, nos. 43815/17 and 15 others, § 17, 27 August 2019). The applicants did not inform the Court about that development before notice of the applications was given to the Government and no explanation for this omission was provided.
Having regard to the fact that the information withheld concerned the very core of the applications, the Court finds that such conduct was contrary to the purpose of the right of individual application. Lawyers must understand that, having due regard to the Court’s duty to examine allegations of human rights violations, they must show a high level of professional prudence and meaningful cooperation with the Court by sparing it the introduction of unmeritorious complaints and, both before proceedings have been instituted and thereafter, they must inquire diligently into all the details of the case, meticulously abide by all the relevant rules of procedure and must urge their clients to do the same. Otherwise, the wilful or negligent misuse of the Court’s resources may undermine the credibility of lawyers’ work in the eyes of the Court and even, if it occurs systematically, may result in particular individual lawyers being banned from representing applicants under Rule 36 § 4 (b) of the Rules of Court (see Stevančević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina (dec.), no. 67618/09, § 29, 10 January 2017).
In view of the above, the Court finds that these applications constitute an abuse of the right of individual application and must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention.
For these reasons, the Court, unanimously
Decides to join the applications;
Declares the applications inadmissible.
Done in English and notified in writing on 15 September 2022.
Viktoriya Maradudina Jovan Ilievski
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
(non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given against socially/State-owned companies)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Relevant domestic decision
Start date of non-enforcement period or date of entry into force of the Convention in respect of Serbia (3 March 2004)
Date of enforcement of domestic decisions
27025/20
25/06/2020
Halima DŽANKOVIĆ
1958
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27026/20
25/06/2020
Sabahudin MAVRIĆ
1967
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
27030/20
25/06/2020
Mihrija MAVRIĆ
1969
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
27033/20
25/06/2020
Elmaza BALIJA
1972
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
27039/20
25/06/2020
Zurifa LIČINA
1959
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27043/20
25/06/2020
Mejrema ČALAKOVIĆ
1962
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27046/20
25/06/2020
Slobodanka STEFANOVIĆ
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27047/20
25/06/2020
Muradija ZEKIĆ
1969
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27051/20
25/06/2020
Jasmina BALKAN
1961
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27053/20
25/06/2020
Šefćeta HAJROVIĆ
1964
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27055/20
25/06/2020
Bajra ŠEMSOVIĆ
1953
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27060/20
25/06/2020
Jasmina BELOVOĐANIN
1966
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27115/20
25/06/2020
Atića RUGOVAC
1958
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
10/09/2020
27132/20
25/06/2020
Tima ŠABOTIĆ
1962
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27135/20
25/06/2020
Raza ŠEHOVIĆ
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
15/12/2020
27188/20
25/06/2020
Bisera SADOVIĆ
1973
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
27607/20
25/06/2020
Mihrija BERANAC
1972
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28024/20
25/06/2020
Fatmira MISIRLIĆ
1974
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
28592/20
25/06/2020
Muamer MIRALJEMOVIĆ
1967
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28610/20
25/06/2020
Bahrija RAMOŠEVAC
1955
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28613/20
25/06/2020
Binasa RAMOVIĆ
1958
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28614/20
25/06/2020
Ibrahim ĐERLEK
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28616/20
25/06/2020
Dragana RAKOVIĆ
1973
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
28620/20
25/06/2020
Ifeta BEJTOVIĆ
1995
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
25/08/2020
30105/20
25/06/2020
Faketa ZEKIĆ
1961
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30296/20
25/06/2020
Emina VEJSELOVIĆ
1950
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30298/20
25/06/2020
Hajro SULJOVIĆ
1952
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30303/20
25/06/2020
Vinojla MILENKOVIĆ
1963
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30307/20
25/06/2020
Zineta MEĐEDOVIĆ
1962
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30313/20
25/06/2020
Munevera MALIĆEVIĆ
1966
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30321/20
25/06/2020
Suada SUBAŠIĆ
1968
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30325/20
25/06/2020
Bisera ZEKIĆ
1961
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30334/20
25/06/2020
Mediha PLUNCEVIĆ
1955
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30338/20
25/06/2020
Ljubica MILOSAVLJEVIĆ
1963
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30342/20
25/06/2020
Hasiba BIBEROVIĆ
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
30346/20
25/06/2020
Alija ARAPOVIĆ
1963
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32458/20
25/06/2020
Marica PUZOVIĆ
1965
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32461/20
25/06/2020
Nataša ČEKOVIĆ
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32462/20
25/06/2020
Suthija RUSTIĆ
1959
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32463/20
25/06/2020
Mehdija KLADNIČANIN
1959
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32465/20
25/06/2020
Ezrena BRONJA
1964
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
15/12/2020
32466/20
25/06/2020
Tomanija RAVIĆ
1957
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32467/20
25/06/2020
Mersida SPAHOVIĆ
1965
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32468/20
25/06/2020
Zorica ŠARAC
1967
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32469/20
25/06/2020
Zumreta PRTINAC LEVOŠ
1961
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32470/20
25/06/2020
Mujesira MUHOVIĆ
1962
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32471/20
25/06/2020
Atidža MUJKOVIĆ
1967
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020
32472/20
25/06/2020
Mesud RUSTIĆ
1952
Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003
03/03/2004
24/08/2020