3 C.L.R. i- . r . . 1988 November 28 [STYUANIDES, J.] , IN THE MATTER OFARTICLE 146 OF THE CONSTITUTION-., ANDREASPETROU, Applicant, v. 1.THEMINISTEROFINTERIOR, \/' ,,·''" -*'*'.. .2. THE DISTRICTOFFICER OF PAPHOS;IN HIS CAPACITY AS IN SPECTOROF THE RERISTRATON OF BIRTHSANDDEATHS;- ,*• • *j. ' ..;+., \ _ • ." » '"'*.L * ' ' * " l ' / ' v _ Respondents. ' ' (CaseNoy872l85). Constitutional Law—Right to, private life—Constitution, Art., J5— Encompasses useandchangeof surnameto reflect true'suiteofaffairsof person's identityinsociety. The Conventionfor theProtection ofHumanRights (Law 39/62)section 8— Private life—Encompassesuseandchangeofsurnameto~reflecttruestate ofaffairsofperson'sidentityinsociety. , -' < . ' ι- - ι -· • · • ' ' 1* * , •• f · - ' - r «*• •- *• ι* * \ . ι»' TA« Convention for the Protection of Human'Rights..(Law 39/62)— Remedies—Stateenjoys wiae'margin of appreciation inproviding reme dies. 10 15 The BirthsandDeathsRegistrationLaw85/73,section 33—Surname, change of^No power,save in case of error,clericalorsubstantial, to change the surnamerecordedintheregister. The applicant's surnamewas correctly registered in the^Register of Birthsas "Stylianides".At somestageof his life theapplicant changed the said surnameto"Petrou".TheRepublicissuedtohim apassport in such a surname. Hiswife uses thesurname "Petrou".The threechildren of the marriage use, also,such surname. Theapplicant isknowninbusiness and 2319 Petrou v. Minister of Interior
(1988)societyas"Petrou". Bymeansofthisrecoursetheapplicantimpugnedthevalidity ofthere spondents*decision,whereby applicant'sapplication thatthesurname "Pe trou"be entered in theRegisterof Birthsand replace "Stylianides"„was turned downon thegroundthattherelevant law doesnotgive power of 5 suchachange. Theapplicant complained, interalia,of violation ofhisright toprivate life. Held,dismissing therecourse:
(1)Section 33
(1)ofLaw 85/73provides thatnoalterationmaybemade 10 exceptasprovidedinthisLaworinanyotherLaw.Sub-section
(2)inune quivocal languagerefers tocorrectionofclericalerror(γραφικόλάθος)and sub-section
(3)toanerrorasregardsthefactsorsubstance(λάθοςπερίτα γεγονόταήτηνουσία). Inthiscasetherehasnotbeensuchanerror.
(2)Therighttoprivate life isprotectedby Art ISoftheConstitution and Art.8 of theConvention for theProtectionof HumanRights.Ithasnot asyetreceivedanexhaustive definition. 15 Itencompassestheuseandchangeof asurname toreflect thetruestate of affairs ofaperson'sidentityinsociety.
(3)The State, however, enjoys awidemargin of appreciation in the provision ofremedies. 20 Inthepresent casenoviolation oftherightof private life hasbeenes tablished, astherightof surname of theapplicant inallrespectsandin all otherofficial documents usedreflects hiscorrectidentity, asthe surname "Petrou"isused. 25 Recoursedismissed. Noorderas to costs. Casesreferredto: Malachtou v.Armefa
(1987)1OUR. 207; TyrerCases.EuropeanCourtHumanRights,SeriesΑ,Ν α26; 2320 *) 3 C.L.R. Petrou v. Minister of Interior X.v.Iceland
(1976)3DandR86; VanOosterwijck v.Belgium, EuropeanCourt Human Rights, Series A, No.4; Abdulam GabalesandBalkandali,EuropeanCourtHumanRights,Series A,No.94. 5 Recourse. Recourseagainsttherefusal of therespondentstoamendthe BirthsRegisterofPaphostownandinsertthereinapplicant'ssurname"Petrou" . Ph.Apostolides,fortheapplicant R. Gavrielides, Senior Counsel of the Republic, fortherespondents. * ' Cur. adv. vult. 15 STYLIANIDESJ.readthefollowingjudgment.Theapplicant bythisrecourseseekstheannulmentofthedecisionofRespondentNo.2,theDistrictOfficer ofPaphos,bywhichherefusedto amendtheBirthsRegisterofPaphostownandinsertthereinthe surnameoftheapplicant"Petrou". 20 Thefactsofthecaseoverwhichthereisnodisputeareasfollows: 25 Theapplicantwasborn in Paphos town on 12thDecember,. 1945,andthefollowingparticularswereenteredintheRegister ofBirths:Hisname-Andreas,dateofbirth,sex,nameandmaiden nameofthemother -MariaGeorghiou Tritta andnameand surnameofthefatiaer-Michael Stylianides. Theapplicantfin 1961immigratedtoZair.Thereheadoptedthe surname "Petrou,",thatofthesecond husbandof hismother,as '2321 Stylianides J. Petrou v. Minister of Interior
(1988)herfirstmarriage with applicant'sfather hadbeendissolved. He carried on his business andoccupationin thenew surnameand became known and identified as "Andreas Petrou".In 1971 he sworeanaffidavit before theConsulof theRepublicofCyprusin Kinsangani of Zair totheeffect that his surname was nomore 5 "Stylianides" but"Petrou".TheConsulacceptedthis,asafactual situation andissued tohimanewpassport of theRepublicofCy prus with thesurname Petrou. Laterhereturned tohis country andthePassport Authorities issued tohimnewpassportA142999withthenameAndreas and JQ surnamePetrou.On6thJuly, 1983,anew pasport was issued to him underNo. Β144707again with thenameAndreas andthe surnamePetrou.Theapplicanton 18thSeptember, 1977,married his wife who assumed his surnamePetrou;thethreechildren of themarriagehave thesurnamePetrou. Thereis nodispute thatheis known,carries onhis business andheis identified insociety asPetrouandnotStylianides. On 14thJuly, 1984, hesworeanaffidavit andapplied to the DistrictOfficer of Paphos,whois theappropriateofficer under theBirths andDeathsRegistration Law, 1973 (Law No.85/73), for thealterationof theRegister andinsertion thereinof thesur name "Petrou".TlieDistrictOfficer of Paphosrejected thisappli cationontheground thatundertheonly provision for alteration, section 33ofLaw 85/73,theBirthRegister couldnotbecorrect edasapplied for andtheDistrictOfficer hadnopower toaccede toapplicant's request 15 20 Theapplicantchallenges thelegalityof thisdecisiononthe fol lowinggrounds: (a)Misconceptionof law. (b)That,if thereis nomisconceptionof law, thereis violation ofhis "privatelife"protectedby Article 15of theConstitutionand 30 Article 8oftheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights. 2322 25 3 CX.R. 5 Petrouv.Minister of Interior Stylianides J. Law 85/73is anamending andconsolidating Law. The first law governing registration of births and deaths was enacted in thiscountry in 1895 (Law No. 16/1895). Itcontinuedinopera tionwith slightamendmentsuntilitwas repealed andreplaced by theBirths andDeathsRegistration Law, 1947, (Law No.8/47), which came intooperation on 1stJanuary, 1948. Thelatter was repealed andsubstituted byLaw 85/73. Section33provides forcorrectionoferrorsinthe Register. 10 15 20 Section33
(1)provides thatnoalterationmaybemade except as provided in this Law orin any other Law. Subsection
(2)in unequivocal language refers to correction of clerical error (γραφικό λάθος) and sub-section
(3)toanerror as regards the facts orsubstance (λάθοςπερίταγεγονόταήτηνουσία). TheRegister hasanumberof columnsas setoutintheRegulationsmadeundertheLaw by theCouncilof Ministers andpub lished intheOfficial GazetteoftheRepublic dated21stDecem ber, 1973, Supplement.No.3,PartI,VolumeB, p. 1073,under Notification 306.Thematerial-columns for Births (see prescribed Form 3) are: Dateand place/of birth -name,if there is -sex nameandsurnameoffather -name,surnameandmaidennameof mother-occupationof father Theapplicantdoes notcomplain thattherewas anerrorinany of theentries,which was not rectified. ' 25 > « . • - Thepower conferred ontheDistrictOfficer by theLaw islim itedandsection 33didnotempower himtoaccepttheapplicant's request. M| Thesecond groundonwhich thisrecourse is based is that the subjudice'decision infringed therightofprivate life. •. Paragraph 1 of Article 15inPartΠof theConstitutionreads: "1. Every person hastheright torespect for hisprivate and 2323 Stylianides J. Petrouv.Minister of Interior
(1988)family life." PartΠofourConstitution- FundamentalRightsandLiberties -was greatly influenced bytheEuropeanConventiononHuman Rights,whichwas inturninfluenced bytheUnitedNationsUni versalDeclarationof HumanRights 1948.Theseprovisions call 5 for agenerousinterpretation suitabletogivetoindividuals thefull measure of the fundamental rights and freedoms safeguarded therein.Any Decisionsof theSupervisory Organsof theConven tion,especially theCourt,ontheinterpretation andapplicationof theConvention,thoughnotbinding,serveasguidancefor thein- JQ terpretation andapplicationof ourcorresponding constitutional provisions. Article 15.1 is identical with thefirstpartof Article 8of the ConventionfortheProtection ofHumanRightsandFundamental Freedoms. The Convention is an integ.ral part of our Legal System in whichithasprimacyoverdomesticlegislation,whetherearlieror subsequent -{Malachtou v.Ατητφ
(1987)1C.L.R.207). TheConvention,aninternationaldocument, isalivinginstru mentwhichmustbeinterpretedin thelightofpresentdaycondi- 20 tions. (Eur.CourtH.R.,Tyrercase;,judgment of 25April 1978, Series A No.26). TheapplicantcomplainsthattheapplicationoftheLawobliges himtousedocumentswhichdonotreflect hisrealidentity.Acer tificate, thoughproperlypreparedinthe-firstplace,nolongercor- 25 respondstothe-truestateofaffairs anditfeisisaninfringement of hisrightofprivate life. Privatelifehasnotyetreceivedanexhaustivedefini tion. TheCivil Codesof anumberofEuropeancountriesrecognize thenameandsurnameasrightofprivatelifeinthedoinainof Pri- 30 vate Law. 2324 15 3 C.L.R. 1 Petrouτ.Minister of Interior Stylianides J. InEnglandone.maychangehissurnamebydepositingaDeed Poll -(Halsbury'sLaws. of.England; 4th Edition,Volume 35, ; paragraphs 1175,Π77- 1180): . .„ Itisunnecessary topronounceihthiscasewhetherthispart of the English'Law, in the'absence-of statutoryprovisions inour country.isapplicable intheRepublic. ** , hrGreecetherightofsurnameisrecognizedby theCivil-Code and'thereisspecificlegislatiori'for.thechangeof the surname. ΙηΤούση,- Αστικό'Δίκαιο 1978, edition Β, at p. 227 we read:: "Ειςτηνκρινωνική-ατομικότηταπεριλαμβανεται,καιη . τιμή,τοόνομαως εξωτερικόνδιακριτικόν γνώρισμα του * φορέως,τοντουαπόΐτα άλλαμέλητηςκοινωνίας;!* In:the sphere of"thePublic Law, thepersonality of aperson andits;develbpment.are includedinprivate life- (seeManessi Constitutional Rights Individual'Liberties -δ'edition, 1982,at pp. 1T4^H7)::," '; ' Professor Velii)in "The.European Convention onHuman Rights andtheRight toRespect for Private Life, theHome and " Communications"'atip..92!wrote: "Thatit-ihcludes-'theuseofihis name,his identityorsimilar>:"'· ' ' ' * IntheConclusionreachedby theNordicConferenceofJurist, inMay 1967,tI"the,use:of name,1identity orlikeness" was one of therightsincludedinthedefinition of therighttoPrivacy. InApplication Nov.6825/75 -X. v.Iceland
(1976)5D.&R. 86atp.89theEuropeanCommissionsaidthattheconceptofpri vate-lifecontainedinArticle 8"comprisesalsotoacertaindegree therighttoestablish andtodeveloprelationshipswithotherhu2325 Stylianides J. Petrouv.Ministerof Interior
(1988)man beings, ...for thedevelopment andfulfilment of one'sown personality" -(see,also Van Oosterwijck v. Belgium, Series A, No. 40). Privatelife encompasses theuse andchangeof asurnameto reflect thetruestateof affairs of aperson'sidentityinsociety,a 5 rightprotectedby theConventionandourConstitution.. BothArticle 8of theConventionandArticle 15of theConsti tution areframed inparticularprecisionandcreatean enforceable rightwhichcanonly beinterferedwith asprovidedinparagraph 2 of these Articles. 10 The State,both under the Constitutionand theConvention, has theobligationnottointerfere withtherightofprivate life.It has,further, undertooktosecuretoeveryone withinthejurisdic tiontherightsandfreedoms defined insection 1 of theConven tion. 15 UnderArticle 13,aPartytotheConventionundertooktopro videeffective remedy before aNationalAuthority for aviolation of theConvention.UnderArticle 35of theConstitutionthelegis lative,executive andjudicial authoritiesoftheRepublicarebound tosecure,withinthelimitsof theirrespective competence, theef- 20 ficientapplicationof theprovisions of thisPartof the Constitu tion- FundamentalRights andLiberties. The States,however, have a wide margin of appreciationin theprovisionof remedies-(seeAbdulazizGabalesandBalkandali, Eur. Court H.R.,judgment of 28 May 1985, Series A, No. 25 94, paragraphs 33-34 and X and Υ v. TheNetherlands, Eur. CourtH.R.,judgment of 26 March 1985,Series A, No.91). Inthepresentcase no violation of therightof privatelifehas beenestablished, astherightof surnameof theapplicantinallre spects andinallotherofficial documentsusedreflectshiscorrect 30 identity,asthesurname"Petrou"isused. 2326 3 C.L.R. Petrouv.Minister of Interior Stylianides J. ThemaindocumentswhichareusedinPublicandPrivateLife are: The Passports, Identity Cards arid Driving Licences. His passportwas issuedtohimasPetrou. Nomaterialwasplacedbefore theCourtandnocomplaintwas madethattherighttohis surnamewas inanyrespectinfringed. See inthisrespectRees case,Eur.CourtH.R., judgment of 17 October, 1986, Series*A,rNo.106. ' Forall theforegoingreasons,thisrecoursefails andishereby dismissed. Lettherebenoorderastocosts. • ~-t v.i . ' Recoursedismissed. Noorder astocosts. >t ,* •* . . V ' •I - · I ' · I ' •**s- •-. •\ ' •.-i .. ι • - V -"• * .i - : r • • ' , *:i *.•• ' - -' 2327 ''. ' - j**t- • " r '.