Displaying items by tag: high court

A recent High Court decision in Malawi has ignited significant national debate by ruling that a 14-year-old girl, pregnant due to rape, must be granted access to a safe abortion. The judgment held that denying such care violates protection under the Gender Equality Act, and that girls impregnated through sexual offences automatically qualify for legal abortion services. Faith leaders, including Catholics, Protestants and Muslims, have warned that the ruling could set a far-reaching precedent in a country where abortion remains almost entirely criminalised except to save the mother’s life. They argue that expanding legal access risks reshaping national policy without public consensus, and intend to challenge the decision through legal and governmental channels. Meanwhile, advocates for reform say restrictive laws force vulnerable women and girls toward unsafe procedures, contributing to maternal deaths, though data on abortion-related mortality remains contested. As both sides mobilise, Malawi faces a pivotal moment in balancing the protection of life with urgent concerns for justice, safety and healthcare for survivors of sexual violence.

Epping Forest District Council has applied for an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel. In recent months hundreds of people have demonstrated outside the hotel, protesting against its current use. The council says there is a clear risk of further escalating community tensions. Council leader Chris Whitbread expressed frustration over having to take legal action, while a spokesperson noted that the hotel's location, near schools and a care home, adds to residents’ anxiety. The protests intensified after a hotel resident was arrested and charged with multiple offences, though he denies the allegations. Refugee charity Care4Calais has said that some asylum seekers are now scared to go outside. The Home Office says it has reduced the number of asylum hotels from 400 in summer 2023 down to 210. Meanwhile, the leader of Dudley council has said that housing asylum seekers is a drain on the local economy: see

Christian families and schools have launched a High Court challenge against the Government’s decision to add VAT to private and independent school fees, including Christian institutions. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), 13 claimants - including parents, pupils, and four schools - argue that the policy, enacted on 1 January, is unlawful, discriminatory, and infringes on human rights. The removal of the VAT exemption has forced schools to raise fees, threatening access to faith-based education. Stephen White, a claimant, described the sacrifices his family makes to afford Christian schooling for their children, emphasising the vital role faith-based education plays in shaping the next generation. Headteachers warn of severe repercussions, including pupil withdrawals and potential closures. Carol Santer of The King’s School in Hampshire noted that many pupils come from non-affluent backgrounds, and some rely on specialised support unavailable in state schools. Claimants are urging the Government to reconsider its decision.

Ofsted wrongly tried to force Cornerstone Adoption and Fostering Service to work with non-evangelical Christian carers. The High Court has ruled that England’s only evangelical Christian fostering agency can continue to work only with evangelical Christian carers, stating, ‘Cornerstone is permitted to exclusively recruit evangelical Christian carers because of the exemption in the Equality Act 2010 for religious organisations’.