Rocha De Gouveia v. Portugal



In the case of Rocha de Gouveia v. Portugal (1),

The Screening Panel of the European Court of Human Rights,

constituted in accordance with Article 48 para. 2 (art. 48-2) of the

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

("the Convention") and Rule 26 of Rules of Court B (2),

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Notes by the Registrar

1 The case is numbered 88/1996/707/904. The first number is the

case's position on the list of cases referred to the Court in the

relevant year (second number). The last two numbers indicate the

case's position on the list of cases referred to the Court since its

creation and on the list of the corresponding originating applications

to the Commission.

2 Rules of Court B, which came into force on 2 October 1994, apply

to all cases concerning the States bound by Protocol No. 9 (P9).

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Sitting in private at Strasbourg on 25 September 1996, and

composed of the following judges:

Mr R. Macdonald, Chairman,

Mr C. Russo,

Mr M.A. Lopes Rocha,

and also of Mr H. Petzold, Registrar,

Having regard to the application against the Portuguese Republic

lodged with the Court on 10 July 1996 by a Portuguese national,

Mrs Maria do Amparo Rocha de Gouveia, within the three-month period

laid down by Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47) of

the Convention;

Whereas Portugal has recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of

the Court (Article 46 of the Convention) (art. 46) and ratified

Protocol No. 9 (P9) to the Convention, Article 5 (P9-5) of which amends

Article 48 (art. 48) of the Convention so as to enable a person,

non-governmental organisation or group of individuals having lodged a

complaint with the European Commission of Human Rights ("the

Commission") to refer the case to the Court;

Noting that the present case has not been referred to the Court

by either the Government of the respondent State or the Commission

under Article 48 para. 1 (a) or (d) (art. 48-1-a, art. 48-1-d) of the

Convention;

Having regard to the Commission's report of 15 May 1996 on the

application (no. 24217/94) lodged with the Commission by

Mrs Rocha de Gouveia on 19 May 1994;

Whereas the applicant complained of the length of proceedings in

a Portuguese civil court, to which she was a party, and alleged a

breach of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention, under which

"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ..., everyone

is entitled to a ... hearing within a reasonable time by [a] ...

tribunal ...";

Whereas the applicant, in specifying the object of her

application, as required by Rule 34 para. 1 (a) of Rules of Court B,

stated that she sought a decision by the Court holding that there had

been a breach of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention and

ordering the respondent State to pay her compensation for the damage

she had allegedly sustained on account of the length of the proceedings

in issue;

Having regard to Article 48 (art. 48) of the Convention and

Rule 34 paras. 1 (a), 3 and 4 of Rules of Court B,

1 Finds that

(a) the case raises no serious question affecting the interpretation

or application of the Convention, as the Court has already

established case-law on the "reasonable time" requirement in

Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention; and

(b) the case does not, for any other reason, warrant consideration

by the Court as, in the event of a finding that there has been

a breach of the Convention, the Committee of Ministers of the

Council of Europe can award the applicant just satisfaction,

having regard to any proposals made by the Commission;

2 Decides, therefore, unanimously, that the case will not be

considered by the Court.

Done in English and in French, and notified in writing on

21 October 1996 pursuant to Rule 34 para. 4 of Rules of Court B.

Signed: Ronald MACDONALD

Chairman

Signed: Herbert PETZOLD

Registrar