X. v. THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Doc ref: 2942/66 • ECHR ID: 001-3032
Document date: April 8, 1967
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THE FACTS
Whereas the facts presented by the Applicant may be summarised as
follows:
The Applicant is a German national, born in 1915 and at present
residing in Munich.
A. Complaints concerning claims for pension and compensation
I.1. The Applicant states that 12 1/2 years ago she lodged an
application with the Equalisation Board (Ausgleichsamt) at Bad
Kreuznach to obtain compensation according to the Liability
Equalisation Act (Lastenausgleichgesetz) for the loss of certain real
property at Goldap (East Prussia) as a result of the war. The Board did
not act upon the application for 10 years and then referred the case
to the Equalisation Board at Emden. Since this Board did not give a
decision either, the Applicant, in October, 1964, lodged a
constitutional appeal (Verfassungsbeschwerde) with the Federal
Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) complaining of the
Board's failure to act. She states that the Federal Constitutional
Court also failed to give a decision.
She alleges that, in view of the fact that she had a right to such
compensation and that for now altogether 12 1/2 years, the authorities
had failed to act on her application having in their possession
numerous documents in support of her claim, Article 1 of the Protocol
to the Convention was violated.
2. By letter of 15th March, 1967, the Applicant submitted additional
information:
(a) She states that, on .. March, 1964, the Equalisation Board at Emden
had given two decisions by which it fixed the amount of compensation
to be awarded to her for the property lost at Goldap. These decisions
were transmitted to the Applicant on .. March, 1967 by the Equalisation
Board. In a letter accompanying the decisions, the Board informed the
Applicant that her place of residence had been unknown at the time when
the decision was taken and that consequently they had been served on
her by substituted service in accordance with Article 15 of the Act
relating to Service of Process in Administrative Matters
(Verwaltungszustellungsgesetz). The decisions had become final on ..
April, 1964.
(b) The Applicant complains:
(i) that the amount fixed by the Board was inadequate;
(ii) that the substituted service had been unlawful because both she
and her daughter had been in constant contact with various authorities
and courts at Emden, in particular with the Post Office, the Mayor and
the Labour Court at Emden, and that, consequently, her place of
residence could not have been unknown to the authorities.
II. The Applicant further states that she had also inherited real
property at Treuburg (East Prussia), she and her daughter being
co-heirs. Having lodged a claim to obtain compensation for the loss of
this property, the Equalisation Board at Lübeck, on .. May, 1963,
assessed an estimated value of DM 7,854.-- thereto. The Applicant,
believing that the estimate was not made in accordance with the
provision of the Liability Equalisation Act concerning official
valuation and alleging a false description of the property in question
by the Board, on .. August, 1963, lodged a complaint (Klage) with the
Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgericht) at Schleswig to obtain a
higher valuation and thus higher compensation. The Court having failed
to give a decision by October, 1964, the Applicant lodged a
constitutional appeal with the Federal Constitutional Court. She states
that the Federal Constitutional Court took no action on the appeal.
It appears that, on .. September, 1965, the Administrative Court at
Schleswig rejected the complaint holding that the findings of the
Equalisation Board concerning the size of the property corresponded to
the evidence given by the Home Information Office
(Heimatsauskunftstelle) and another co-heir of the estate. The Court
further decided that an appeal (Revision) from its decision should not
lie. The Applicant lodged appeals (Revisionszulassungsbeschwerde und
Revision) with the Federal Administrative Court
(Bundesverwaltungsgericht) which were dismissed on .. June, 1966 on the
ground that the appeals had not been lodged by a lawyer as required by
the Act concerning the Procedure in the Administrative Courts
(Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung). The wording of the decision was corrected
by the Court on .. July, 1966, the Applicant having complained of a
wrong description of her hereditary position.
On .. July, 1966 the Applicant again applied to the Federal
Administrative Court to obtain reinstatement in her prior position
(Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand). This application was rejected
on .. September, 1966.
The Applicant complains that the valuation of her property as proposed
by the authorities is unlawful. She further complains that the
proceedings
before the Courts were unlawful. She alleges, in particular, that she
had applied to the Administrative Court in Bremen to obtain free legal
aid, but had been prevented from submitting the official certificates
of her poverty (Armutszeugnisse) in support of her application as these
had to be issued by the administrative authorities of Emden, a city
which she was forced to leave on account of alleged illegal acts
committed against her. She alleges a violation of Article 1 of the
Protocol to the Convention.
III. 1. The Applicant further states that she was entitled to a widow's
pension of DM 310.-- per month but that, owing to her departure from
Emden and the subsequent travels in Germany and abroad, she had not
received any payments in months. She claims that the arrears amount to
DM 2,672.80.
It appears that on .. October, 1964 she lodged a complaint (Klage) with
the Social Court (Sozialgericht) at Aurich to obtain payments on her
widow's pension. The Court rejected her claim on .. May, 1966. The
Applicant states that, on .. June, 1966, she appealed from this
decision to the Social Court of Appeal (Landessozialgericht) at Celle
but does not indicate what decision was given by this Court.
She complains that her pension is unlawfully withheld and that the
Social Courts wrongfully dealt with her complaint. She states that
because of these irregularities she has lodged an appeal (Beschwerde)
with the Federal Social Court (Bundessozialgericht) which, on ..
October, 1964, was referred to the Minister for Social Matters of Lower
Saxony at Hanover who, in turn, referred the appeal to the Regional
Relief Board (Landesversorgungsamt) on .. November, 1964. It appears
that the Board informed her by letter of .. November, 1964 that her
case was not yet up for decision. She further states that, on ..
December, 1965, she complained (Beschwerde) to the Social Court at
Aurich of the Court's alleged manipulations in dealing with her suit.
It appears that the complaint was referred to the President of the
Social Court of Appeal at Celle who interpreted it to be a request to
institute disciplinary proceedings (Dienstaufsichtsbeschwerde) against
the judges of the Social Court. By letter of .. February, 1966 from the
Office of the President of the Social Court of Appeal the Applicant was
so informed. Her objection (Widerspruch) to such interpretation, her
further appeal (weitere Beschwerde) to the Social Court of Appeal, and
her request for a decision regarding her appeal apparently remained
without reply from the Court.
2. By letter of 1st March, 1967, the Applicant submitted the following
additional information:
(a) She states that, on .. February, 1967, she obtained two decisions
taken by the Social Court of Appeal at Celle upon the appeal of ..
June, 1966 against the Social Court's decision of .. May, 1966. By
these two decisions, the rejection of her claim against the Relief
Office (Versorgungsamt) at Oldenburg and the Office in Charge of
Pensions at the Post Office (Rentenstelle des Postamtes) at Emden for
the payment of her pension has been confirmed and her appeal dismissed
as being ill-founded and inadmissible, respectively.
(b) Also, on .. February, 1967, she allegedly received a letter from
the Federal Social Insurance Office for Employees
(Bundesversicherungsanstalt für Angestellte) in Berlin informing her
that the arrears of the pension due to her, consisting of a total
amount of DM 3,542.40, for the period from 1st January, 1966 to 31st
January, 1967, had been paid as follows:
DM 2,225.60 to the City of Munich for expenses incurred by the City on
the Applicant's behalf, and
DM 1,316.80 into her account at Ludwigshafen.
3. The Applicant complains:
(a) that the Social Court of Appeal wrongly dismissed her appeal and
had, without informing her, unlawfully divided up her one complaint
into two complaints;
(b) that the Federal Insurance Office for Employees had unlawfully
transferred a part of the pension due to her to the City of Munich.
(She alleges that she had unsuccessfully lodged protests against this
transfer with the City of Munich and the Federal Insurance Office);
(c) that, as a result of her pension having been unlawfully withheld
from her, she was unable to pay storage fees for her luggage stored at
the railway station in Munich. She demands that the authorities also
pay these fees so that she can recover her luggage.
The Applicant alleges a violation of Article 1 of the Protocol to the
Convention.
B. Complaints concerning living conditions
I.1. The Applicant states that she was forced to leave her home owing
to irregularities committed by the City Administration of Emden.
Together with her daughter she travelled in Germany and abroad and made
short stays in Strasbourg, Kehl, Karlsruhe, Vienna, Berne, and finally
Munich where they remained until the present time. It appears that she
had no regular place of residence there but stayed in various homes
supported by the Churches, by the City of Munich, or spent the night
in the open. The Applicant states that in the cities of Kehl, Karlsruhe
and Munich she lodged applications with the authorities to be provided
with a lodging. Upon the refusal by the authorities to make such
provision the Applicant lodged numerous complaints and appeals with the
Administrative Courts at Karlsruhe and Munich respectively. All these
were rejected. Constitutional appeals (Verfassungsbeschwerden) lodged
by the Applicant were declared to be inadmissible by a group of three
judges of the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
in respect of her complaint against the City of Kehl on .. September,
1964, in respect of her complaint against the City of Karlsruhe on ..
October, 1964, and declared inadmissible by the Bavarian Constitutional
Court (Bayerischer Verfassungsgerichtshof) in respect of her complaints
against the City of Munich on .. September, 1965, and again on .. May,
1966.
2. The Applicant states that upon her arrival in Munich she and her
daughter found a preliminary lodging in the Home for Evangelical
Students (Evangelisches Schülerinnenheim) but had to leave this home
on .. July, 1965. On .. November, 1965 they were assigned two beds in
the Municipal Home for Women and Mothers (Städtisches Frauen- und
Mütterheim).
It appears that on .. June, 1966 she requested the District Court
(Amtsgericht) in Munich to lay charges against the persons in charge
of the Home of having disturbed the domestic peace (Hausfriedensbruch).
The Court did not take any action upon this request. Instead, the
administrative authorities of the Home in turn applied to the District
Court in Munich to have the Applicant expelled from the Home. On ..
September, 1966 she and her daughter were taken away by a bailiff and
the police and transferred to a casual ward.
The Applicant complains that she was subjected to inhuman and degrading
treatment in that she was unlawfully denied a proper dwelling. She
alleges that repeatedly she was insulted and even beaten by the persons
in charge of the municipal homes and wards and by people in the street.
She alleges a violation of Article 3 of the Convention.
II. The Applicant further states that her Identity Card
(Personalausweis) expired on .. September, 1964. On .. November, 1964
she received a new Identity Card which allegedly contained wrong
entries. In the meanwhile, on .. October, 1964 she had instituted
proceedings before the Administrative Court at Aurich to obtain a
proper Identity Card. Her complaint was rejected on .. January, 1965.
She states that she lodged an appeal (Berufung) with the Administrative
Court of Appeal at Lüneburg where the case is still pending.
The Applicant complains that owing to the denial of a proper Identity
Card she is frequently inconvenienced and subjected to limitations on
her free movements. Without giving any further particulars, she also
complains of irregularities committed by the Administrative Court at
Aurich in dealing with her case. She states, that because of these
irregularities she appealed (Beschwerde) to the Administrative Court
of Appeal at Lüneburg on .. October, 1964 and again on .. November,
1964, but that she received no decision from the Court. She alleges a
violation of Article 5 of the Convention.
C. Complaints concerning criminal proceedings
I.1. It appears from her statements and from copies of documents
submitted by her that, on .. November, 1965, she was arrested in Munich
on suspicion of making libellous statements and causing a disturbance
of the peace, and was committed to detention on remand. Her complaint
against the lawfulness of the arrest (Haftbeschwerde) was rejected by
the Regional Court (Landgericht I) in Munich on .. November, 1965.
On .. November, 1965 the District Court (Amtsgericht) in Munich issued
an order (Strafbefehl) inflicting a sentence of 10 days' imprisonment
(Gefängnis) and 2 days' arrest (Haft) upon the Applicant. She was
released from detention on .. November, 1964. Upon her protest against
the order inflicting the sentence (Einspruch gegen den Strafbefehl) the
District Court in Munich, on .. January, 1966, upheld the order, the
Applicant not having appeared at the trial. Contending that the
proceedings were unlawful and that therefore she did not have to appear
at any hearing but could rightfully claim dismissal of her case, the
Applicant addressed herself to the Regional Court in Munich. The Court
interpreted her recourse to be an appeal (Berufung) from the District
Court's decision, and confirmed the conviction on .. May, 1966.
The Applicant complains:
- that she was wrongly detained on remand;
- that she was wrongly convicted;
- that the proceedings instituted against her were unlawful, in
particular, that there should not have been a decision on appeal
because she did not lodge an appeal.
She alleges a violation of Articles 3, 5 and 6 of the Convention.
II. The Applicant states that on .. November, 1965 the administrative
authorities in Munich requested her and her daughter to sign statements
by which they agreed to be committed to an asylum for the homeless
(Unterkommensauftrag) in view of the fact that they had been spending
the days in a public park and had also slept there. Since they
repeatedly refused to sign this agreement, the authorities finally, on
.. November, 1965, issued an order to commit them to a casual ward.
In the meanwhile, the Applicant had been arrested on .. November, 1965.
She states that in the course of being interrogated by the police at
their headquarters one of the officers pushed her so hard that she
fell. She requested the District Court at Munich to lay charges of
committing assault in office (tätliche Beleidigung im Amt). Having had
no response from the Court for several months, the Applicant, on ..
February, 1966, complained (Beschwerde) to the Public Prosecutor at the
Regional Court I (Staatsanwalt bei dem Landgericht I) in Munich of his
failure to open proceedings against the officer. On .. February, 1966
the Public Prosecutor informed her that he refused to prosecute.
The Applicant appealed (Beschwerde) from this decision to the Senior
Public Prosecutor (Oberstaatsanwalt) at the Regional Court in Munich.
The appeal was referred to the Attorney-General (Generalstaatsanwalt)
at the Court of Appeal (Oberlandesgericht) in Munich who dismissed it
on .. May, 1966. The Applicant then applied for free legal aid
(Armenrechtsgesuch) to the Court of Appeal in Munich in order to lodge
a further appeal upon the Attorney-General's refusal to prosecute on
the charges laid by her (Klageerzwingungsverfahren). The Court rejected
her application by decision of .. June, 1966.
The Applicant complains that the refusal to prosecute is unlawful. She
also alleges that the Attorney-General should not have decided, her
appeal having been lodged with the Senior Public Prosecutor. Without
referring to any Articles, she alleges generally a violation of the
Convention.
THE LAW
Whereas certain of the facts alleged relate to a period prior to 3rd
September, 1953, the date of the entry into force of the Convention
with respect to the Federal Republic of Germany and whereas, in
accordance with the generally recognised rules of international law,
the Convention only governs, for each Contracting Party, facts
subsequent to its entry into force with respect to that Party; whereas
it follows that the examination of the Application, in so far as it
relates to these alleged facts, is outside the competence of the
Commission ratione temporis;
Whereas, concerning the Applicant's complaints as to the rejection of
her claim for compensation and as to the conduct of the proceedings
connected therewith in respect of property lost as a result of the war,
it is to be observed that, under the terms of Article 1 (Art. 1), the
Convention guarantees only the rights and freedoms set forth in Section
I of the Convention, and that under Article 25, paragraph (1)
(Art. 25-1), only the alleged violation of one of those rights and
freedoms by a Contracting Party can be the subject of an application
presented by a person, non-governmental organisation or group of
individuals; whereas otherwise an examination of the Application is
outside the competence of the Commission ratione materiae; whereas in
a series of previous cases (for instance, Applications Nos. 1164/61 -
S v. the Federal Republic of Germany and 1532/62 - H v. the
Netherlands) the Commission has consistently held that the right to
obtain compensation for an injury which does not itself constitute a
violation of the Convention, for example as in the present case,
ratione temporis, is not a right guaranteed by any of the provisions
of the Convention; and whereas, as regards her complaints concerning
the proceedings, it is pointed out that proceedings before an
administrative authority, such as the Equalisation Board, fall outside
the scope of Article 6 (Art. 6) of the Convention;
Whereas, therefore, this part of the Application is incompatible with
the provisions of the Convention within the meaning of Article 27,
paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's further complaints that the
Equalisation Board failed to take any further action upon her claim for
compensation for her property lost at Goldap, it is to be observed
that, under Article 26 (Art. 26) of the Convention, the Commission may
only deal with a matter after all domestic remedies have been exhausted
according to the generally recognised rules of international law; and
whereas the Applicant failed to commence an action before the
Administrative Court on the ground of the alleged inactivity of the
Board, in accordance with Article 42 of the Act concerning the
Procedure in the Administrative Courts (Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung);
Whereas, therefore, she has not exhausted the remedies available to her
under German law;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaints relating to the
conduct of the Court proceedings concerning her compensation claim for
property lost at Treuburg, the Applicant failed to lodge an appeal to
the Federal Administrative Court through a lawyer; whereas, therefore,
she has equally not exhausted the remedies available to her under
German law;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaints relating to her
pension claim and the Court proceedings concerned, the Applicant failed
to show that she appealed to the Federal Social Court on these grounds;
Whereas, therefore, she has again not exhausted the remedies available
to her under German law; whereas, moreover, an examination of the case
as it has been submitted, including an examination made ex officio,
does not disclose the existence of any special circumstances which
might have absolved the Applicant, according to the generally
recognised rules of international law, from exhausting in any of these
cases the domestic remedies at her disposal; whereas, therefore, the
condition as to the exhaustion of domestic remedies laid down in
Articles 26 and 27, paragraph (3) (Art. 26, 27-3), of the Convention
has not been complied with by the Applicant;
Whereas, in any event, in regard to her above complaints concerning
which she has failed to exhaust the domestic remedies available to her,
an examination made ex officio, does not disclose any appearance of a
violation of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention and
in particular in the Articles invoked by the Applicant; whereas it
follows that this part of the Application is also manifestly
ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph (2)
(Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas the Applicant also in particular complains that she was refused
free legal aid in order to pursue her said compensation claim before
the Administrative Courts for property allegedly lost at Treuburg;
Whereas, in examining this complaint, the Commission has had regard
both to Article 6, paragraph (1) (Art. 6-1), and to Article 6,
paragraph (3), sub-paragraph (c) (Art. 6-3-c), of the Convention;
Whereas in respect of Article 6, paragraph (3), sub-paragraph (c)
(Art. 6-3-c), it is to be observed that the Convention, under the terms
of Article 1 (Art. 1), guarantees only the rights and freedoms set
forth in Section I of the Convention; and whereas under Article 25,
paragraph (1) (Art. 25-1), only the alleged violation of one of those
rights and freedoms by a Contracting Party can be the subject of an
application presented by a person, non-governmental organisation or
group of individuals; whereas otherwise its examination is outside the
competence of the Commission ratione materiae; whereas it is true that,
under Article 6, paragraph (3), sub-paragraph (c) (Art. 6-3-c), of the
Convention, everyone charged with a criminal offense has the right,
subject to certain conditions, to be granted free legal assistance;
whereas, however, as the Commission has frequently stated, the right
to free legal aid in civil cases is not as such included among the
rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Convention;
Whereas it follows that the Application, in so far as it relates to
Article 6, paragraph (3), sub-paragraph (c) (Art. 6-3-c), is
incompatible with the provisions of the Convention within the meaning
of Article 27, paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2);
Whereas the Commission has also had regard to the general clause of
Article 6, paragraph (1) (Art. 6-1), of the Convention; whereas it
results from this provision that, in the determination of his civil
rights, everyone is entitled to a fair hearing; and whereas an
examination of the case as it has been submitted does not show that the
refusal to grant the Applicant free legal aid constituted in any way
a violation of this right; whereas it follows that the Application, in
so far as it relates to Article 6, paragraph (1) (Art. 6-1), is
manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph (2)
(Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaint that the authorities
in various German cities have refused her adequate accommodation, it
is to be observed that the Convention, under the terms of Article 1
(Art. 1), guarantees only the rights and freedoms set forth in Section
I of the Convention; and whereas, under Article 25, paragraph (1)
(Art. 25-1), only the alleged violation of one of those rights and
freedoms by a Contracting Party can be the subject of an application
presented by a person, non-governmental organisation or group of
individuals; whereas otherwise its examination is outside the
competence of the Commission ratione materiae; whereas no right to such
accommodation is as such included among the rights and freedoms
guaranteed by the Convention; whereas in this respect the Commission
refers to its previous decisions (Nos. 159/56 X v. the Federal Republic
of Germany - Yearbook I, page 202; 1340/62 Y v the Federal Republic
of Germany);
Whereas it follows that this part of the Application is incompatible
with the provisions of the Convention within the meaning of Article 27,
paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's further complaint concerning the
proceedings conducted by such authorities in regard to the question of
her accommodation, an examination of the case as it has been submitted
does not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and
freedoms set forth in the Convention and in particular in Article 6,
paragraph (1) (Art. 6-1); whereas it follows that this part of the
Application is manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27,
paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to her complaint as to her living conditions in
general for which she apparently considers the Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany to be responsible, the Applicant also
alleges a violation of Article 3 (Art. 3) of the Convention; whereas,
however, an examination of the case as it has been submitted does not
disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms set
forth in the Convention and in particular in Article 3 (Art. 3);
whereas again it follows that this part of the Application is also
manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph (2)
(Art. 27-2), of the Convention; Whereas it appears that certain of the
Applicant's complaints are directed against the persons in charge and
residing at the private institutions where she stayed and against
unidentified persons in the street; whereas it results from Article 19
(Art. 19) of the Convention that the sole task of the Commission is to
ensure the observance of the engagements undertaken in the Convention
by the High Contracting Parties, being those members of the Council of
Europe which have signed the Convention and deposited their instruments
of ratification;
Whereas, moreover, it appears from Article 25, paragraph (1)
(Art. 25-1), of the Convention that the Commission can properly admit
an application from an individual only if that individual claims to be
the victim of a violation of the rights set forth in the Convention,
provided that the Party in question has accepted this competence of the
Commission; whereas it results clearly from these Articles that the
Commission has no competence ratione personae to admit applications
directed against private institutions or individuals; whereas, in this
respect, the Commission refers to its previous decisions, No. 172/56
(S v. Sweden - Yearbook I, page 211) and No. 852/60 (S v. the Federal
Republic of Germany, ibid. IV, page 346); whereas an examination of the
case as it has been submitted, including an examination made ex
officio, does not disclose any grounds on which the alleged conduct of
the above private institutions or individuals could exceptionally
entail the responsibility of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Germany under the Convention; whereas it follows that this part of the
Application is incompatible within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph
(2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to any other complaints which she appears to raise
regarding her living conditions, and also to the complaint concerning
her committal to a casual ward, an examination of the case as it has
been submitted does not disclose any appearance of a violation of the
rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention and in particular in
the Articles invoked by the Applicant; whereas it follows that this
part of the Application is manifestly ill-founded within the meaning
of Article 27, paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaint that she was refused
a proper identity card by the authorities at Emden, the Commission has
already stated that the Convention, under the terms of Article 1
(Art. 1), guarantees only the rights and freedoms set forth in Section
I of the Convention; and whereas, under Article 25, paragraph (1)
(Art. 25-1), only the alleged violation of one of those rights and
freedoms by a Contracting Party can be the subject of an application
presented by a person, non-governmental organisation or group of
individuals;
Whereas otherwise its examination is outside the competence of the
Commission ratione materiae; whereas no right to an identity card is
as such included among the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the
Convention; whereas it follows that this part of the Application is
incompatible with the provisions of the Convention within the meaning
of Article 27, paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaint that the Public
Prosecutor in Munich refused to act on the charges laid by her and
prosecute the persons in charge of the Municipal Home for Women and
Mothers as well as an officer of the police in Munich, it is similarly
to be observed that no right to have criminal proceedings instituted
against such persons is as such included among the rights and freedoms
guaranteed by the Convention; whereas in this respect the Commission
refers to its previous decision, No. 2218/64 (X v. the Federal Republic
of Germany); whereas it follows that this part of the Application is
incompatible with the provisions of the Convention within the meaning
of Article 27, paragraph (2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention;
Whereas, in regard to the Applicant's complaints relating to the
criminal proceedings instituted against her, including her conviction
and sentence, the Commission has already pointed out that, under
Article 26 (Art. 26) of the Convention, it may only deal with a matter
after all domestic remedies have been exhausted according to the
generally recognised rules of international law; and whereas the
Applicant failed to avail herself of the remedies at her disposal under
German law;
Whereas, therefore, she has not exhausted the remedies available to her
under German law and no special circumstances are disclosed which might
have absolved her from exhausting such remedies; whereas, therefore,
the condition as to the exhaustion of domestic remedies laid down in
Articles 26 and 27, paragraph (3) (Art. 26, 27-3), of the Convention
has not been complied with by the Applicant;
Whereas, in any event, in regard to the same complaint an examination
of the case as it has been submitted, does not disclose any appearance
of a violation of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention
and especially in the Articles invoked by the Applicant; whereas, in
respect of the judicial decisions complained of, the Commission has
frequently stated that in accordance with Article 19 (Art. 19) of the
Convention its only task is to ensure observance of the obligations
undertaken by the Parties in the Convention; whereas, in particular,
it is not competent to deal with an application alleging that errors
of law or fact have been committed by domestic courts, except where the
Commission considers that such errors might have involved a possible
violation of any of the rights and freedoms limitatively listed in the
Convention; whereas, in this respect, the Commission refers to its
decisions, Nos. 458/59 (X v. Belgium - Yearbook III, page 233) and
1140/61 (X v. Austria - Collection of Decisions, Volume 8, page 57);
and whereas there is no appearance of a violation in the proceedings
complained of; whereas it follows that this part of the Application is
also manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph
(2) (Art. 27-2), of the Convention.
Now therefore the Commission declares this Application inadmissible.