Sahar Shuker v Inspecs Limited

Sahar Shuker v Inspecs Limited

There is no automatic right to a court-provided interpreter in civil procedural hearings not determining civil rights; the applicant's demonstrated command of English is sufficient for the limited purposes of the hearing, and it would be disproportionate to require the court to provide an interpreter. The applicant may engage an interpreter at his own expense but may not address the court through the interpreter.

Parties
Claimant/appellant: Sahar Shuker; Defendant/respondent: Inspecs Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 October 2022
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Application for Interpreter at Oral Rehearing of Procedural Applications
Outcome
Application for court-provided interpreter dismissed.
Legal Topics
Interpreter in Civil Proceedings, Right to Fair Trial, Discretion of Court, Overriding Objective, Article 6 ECHR
Civil Procedure Interpreter in Civil Proceedings Right to Fair Trial Discretion of Court Overriding Objective Article 6 ECHR

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Parties

Sahar Shuker

Claimant/appellant

Inspecs Limited

Defendant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Application for Interpreter at Oral Rehearing of Procedural Applications

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the court must provide an interpreter for a litigant in person in a civil procedural hearing
  2. 2 Whether Article 6 ECHR or the Civil Procedure Rules require provision of an interpreter in these circumstances

Ratio Decidendi

There is no automatic right to a court-provided interpreter in civil procedural hearings not determining civil rights; the applicant's demonstrated command of English is sufficient for the limited purposes of the hearing, and it would be disproportionate to require the court to provide an interpreter. The applicant may engage an interpreter at his own expense but may not address the court through the interpreter.

Court Disposition

Application for court-provided interpreter dismissed.

Orders

  • Applicant's informal application for a court-provided interpreter is dismissed.
  • Applicant may engage an interpreter at his own expense to assist at the hearing.