PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 24706/05) against the Republic of Poland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Polish national, Mr Józef Pabjan (“the applicant”), on 5 July 2005.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 19 October 2007 the President of the Chamber decided to give notice of the application to the Government. It was also decided to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time (Article 29 § 3).

THE FACTS

I THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1928 and lives in Tarnów.

On 9 August 1968 the Hrubieszów District National Council took over the applicant’s farm, regarding it as abandoned property. On 16 January 1969 the Lublin Regional National Council upheld that decision.

On 12 December 1994 the applicant requested the Minister of Agriculture to declare the latter decision null and void.

On 29 August 1997 the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economics dismissed the applicant’s request. The applicant appealed. On 9 January 1998 the Minister upheld his former decision.

On 8 September 1999 the Supreme Administrative Court quashed both decisions of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economics and remitted the case for re-examination.

On 4 April 2000 the applicant lodged a complaint with the Supreme Administrative Court requesting that a fine be imposed on the Minister for failure to enforce the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of 8 September 1999. He also complained about the overall length of the proceedings. On 9 May 2001 the Supreme Administrative Court discontinued these proceedings since the applicant had withdrawn his complaints as the Minister had in the meantime issued the decision in question (see paragraph 12 below).

The Minister began to examine the case in June 2000. On 16 June 2000 he stayed the proceedings until certain documents concerning ownership of the applicant’s farm were submitted by the Lublin Governor’s Office. The requested documents were submitted to the Minister on 23 November 2000.

On 14 March 2001 the applicant lodged another complaint with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economics alleging inactivity on his part.

On 26 April 2001 the Minister again dismissed the applicant’s request to declare the decision null and void. On 8 May 2001 the applicant appealed, requesting a re-examination of his case.

On 21 November 2001 the applicant again lodged a complaint with the Supreme Administrative Court alleging inactivity on the part of the Minister. The proceedings were discontinued on 14 March 2002 since the applicant had withdrawn his complaint as the Minister had issued the decision in question (see paragraph 14 below).

On 8 February 2002 the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economics upheld his decision of 2001.

On 21 January 2003 the Supreme Administrative Court quashed the Minister’s decisions given in 2001 and 2002.

On 27 January 2004 the Minister dismissed the applicant’s request of 1994 for the third time. On 9 February 2004 the applicant lodged an appeal against that decision.

The proceedings are currently pending.