000s38 14. On 1 1 February 2016, the Respondent State requested the Court for an extension of time to file its Response on the basis that it is still collecting information from stakeholders involved in the matter. 15. During its Fortieth Ordinary Session held from 29 February to 18 March 2016, the Court granted a thirty (30) days extension of time to the Respondent State to file its Response from the date of receipt of the notice dated 21 March 2018. The Court also instructed the Registry to request CHRGG for any observations on the Applicants' claims. 16.On 10 May 2016, CHRGG responded by indicating that it does not have any a comments to submit on the matter. lt stated that as per the law, it cannot investigate any matter that has been adjudicated by a court or is subTudice. The Commission also indicated that it only carried out a preliminary rather than a full investigation into the matter. 17.The Registry notified the Respondent State on 7 June 2016 that the Court, suo motu, granted sixty (60) additional days for filing of the Response. 18. On 28 November, 2016, citing that the Respondent State has failed to defend its case, the Applicants applied for the Court to issue a judgment in default in their favour. t 19. On 20 March 2017 , the Court proprio motu granted forty five (45) days extension of time to the Respondent State to file the Response and indicating that it would proceed to issue a judgment in default should the Response not be filed. 20.The Respondent State filed its Response on 25 May 2017, which was served on the Applicants on 29 May 2017 requesting them to file their Reply within 30 days of receipt. 7 v- j s