Paramjeet Singh Bhogal v National Education Union

Facts

The appellant, Mr Paramjeet Singh Bhogal, was a member of the National Education Union. On 7 November 2023 the union commenced disciplinary proceedings against him, the complaint being brought by the National Officers and relating to concerns raised by a number of members; an email of 27 November 2023 described a repeated and longstanding course of conduct said to breach the union's Code of Professional Conduct, including aggressive and overbearing behaviour and verbal attacks on social media. On 20 December 2023 he was suspended from membership pending the outcome, the suspension letter referring to alleged disciplinary offences under paragraphs 1.1(a) and (g) of Appendix A of the rules. On 29 January 2024 he complained to the Certification Officer, the agreed complaint being that the union breached Appendix A rule 3.1(b) when the National Officers made a complaint under rule 1.1(a) which resulted in his suspension under rule 3.3. His case was that 'these proceedings' in paragraph 3.3 referred back to paragraph 3.1, so that officers could pursue only complaints within 1.1(b) to (f). The union disputed that construction. On 18 June 2024 the Certification Officer struck the application out as having no reasonable prospect of success. HHJ Auerbach allowed the appeal through to a full hearing by an order sealed on 1 October 2024.