18. Pleadings were reopened on 19 September 2024 for the Application to be transmitted to the Republic of Mauritius for purposes of its intervention should it wish to do so.2 On 29 November 2024, the Respondent State was also granted 30 days extension of time to file its Response after filing a request to that effect. 19. Upon the expiry of the above stated deadlines, neither the Republic of Mauritius nor the Respondent State filed any submissions. Pleadings were closed on 10 February 2025 and the Parties were duly notified. IV. PRAYERS OF THE PARTIES 20. The Applicant prays the Court for: i. A declaration that the Application meets the admissibility requirements; ii. A declaration that the Respondent State violated [his] right to fair trial; and iii. A declaration that the Respondent State is causing an inordinate delay in [his] case. 21. The Respondent State did not participate in the present proceedings and therefore did not make any prayers. V. ON THE DEFAULT OF THE RESPONDENT STATE 22. Rule 63(1) of the Rules of Court provides that: Whenever a party does not appear before the Court or fails to defend its case within the period prescribed by the Court, the Court may, on the Application of the other party, or on its own motion, enter decision in default after it has satisfied itself that the defaulting party has been 2 In accordance with Article 5(2) of the Protocol and Rule 42(5)(b) of the Rules. 6