Supplementary Section 38: Time limit for applying for judicial review
91.The aim of this section is to reduce the time limit for judicial reviews of decisions that could delay an inquiry. This is because the prospect of a challenge to a procedural decision can halt the inquiry until it has been resolved by a court. For example, a challenge regarding a decision as to whether a witness could give evidence anonymously (perhaps to ensure his right to life was protected) would mean that the inquiry could not require evidence from that individual until the court had decided the matter. This time limit does not extend to challenges about the contents of reports or interim reports.
92.Unlike that in the Civil Procedure Rules, the time limit set by this section runs from the date on which an applicant became aware of the decision, not from the date on which the decision was made. Subsection (2) ensures that this change cannot serve to increase the time limit beyond the standard time limit in the Civil Procedure Rules or the Northern Ireland equivalent.