Court Procedures
Circuit Court Rules
Order: 5B
Actions for Possession and Well-charging Reliefs : S.I. No. 264 of 2009
The below amendment(s) have been made to this instrument which can be viewed by clicking on the link(s):
No5B-S.I. No. 358 Of 2012: Circuit Court Rules (Actions For Possession And Well-Charging Relief) 2012
No5B-S.I. No. 346 Of 2015: Circuit Court Rules (Actions For Possession And Well-Charging Relief) 2015
No5B-S.I. No. 171 Of 2016: Circuit Court Rules (Actions For Possession, Sale And Well-Charging Relief) 2016
1. This Order applies to any proceedings in which the plaintiff claims any of the following reliefs:
(a) recovery of possession of any land on foot of a legal mortgage or charge;
(b) an order declaring the amount due on foot of a mortgage to be well charged on land.
2. Save where otherwise expressly provided by this Order, in the event that any conflict shall arise between the provision of any rule of this Order and any other provision of these Rules, the provision of the rule of this Order shall, in respect of any proceedings to which this Order applies, prevail.
3. (1) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall be commenced by a Civil Bill in Form 2R of the Schedule of Forms. The special indorsement of claim in such Civil Bill shall state specifically and with all necessary particulars the relief claimed and the grounds thereof.
(2) A Civil Bill to which this Order applies shall be served, together with a copy of the affidavit mentioned in rule 5, on each defendant not later than 21 days before the return date mentioned in rule 4.
4. Every Civil Bill to which this Order applies shall, upon being issued, be assigned a return date before the County Registrar, which date shall be entered in the Civil Bill.
5. (1) There shall be served with the Civil Bill a copy of an affidavit (and copies of any exhibits to that affidavit) sworn by or on behalf of the plaintiff, verifying the claim indorsed on the Civil Bill.
(2) A defendant intending to defend proceedings to which this Order applies shall enter an Appearance in the Office in Form 5 in the Schedule of Forms within ten days of the service upon him of the Civil Bill and shall defend the plaintiff’s claim by filing a replying affidavit to the plaintiff’s affidavit and serving a copy of that replying affidavit (and copies of any exhibits to that affidavit) on the plaintiff not later than four days before the return date.
6. (1) No party shall have the right in proceedings to which this Order applies to adduce any evidence otherwise than by affidavit, except—
(a) by leave of the Judge,
(b) where permitted in accordance with rule 7(4) or rule 8(1), or
(c) where the proceedings have been adjourned for plenary hearing in accordance with rule 8(2).
(2) Any party desiring to cross-examine a deponent who has sworn an affidavit filed on behalf of the opposite party may serve upon the party by whom such affidavit has been filed a notice in writing requiring the production of the deponent for cross-examination, and unless such deponent is produced accordingly his affidavit shall not be used as evidence unless by the special leave of the Court.
7. (1) On the return date of the Civil Bill (or on any adjournment from such date), the County Registrar may, in addition to any other order which the County Registrar has power to make:
(a) order service of the Civil Bill on any other person;
(b) make an order enlarging the time for entry of an appearance;
(c) give directions and fix time limits for the filing and delivery of any further affidavits by any party or parties;
(d) give any other directions for the preparation of the proceedings for trial;
(e) where an appearance has not been entered or a replying affidavit in accordance with rule 5(2) which discloses a prima facie defence has not been filed and delivered, make an order for possession in accordance with paragraph (xxxiii) or (xxxiv) of the Second Schedule to the Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995;
(f) where the parties are sui juris, make an order to receive a consent and make the same a rule of court.
(2) Where a replying affidavit has been filed in accordance with rule 5(2) which discloses a prima facie defence, the County Registrar shall transfer the Civil Bill, when in order for hearing, to the Judge’s list on the first opportunity.
(3) For the purposes of this rule, or for the purpose of any hearing before himself, the County Registrar may extend the time for filing affidavits and give such directions and adjourn the case before himself as he thinks fit.
(4) Evidence as to failure to enter an appearance within the time permitted by these Rules may be given by production of a certificate of non-appearance issuing from the Office or otherwise as where the County Registrar permits.
8. (1) If at any stage during the course of proceedings instituted by Civil Bill in accordance with this Order it appears to the Judge or the County Registrar that the determination of any issue is necessary for the proper decision or ruling as to the relief to be granted in such proceedings or as to any matter arising therein, the Judge may, or the County Registrar may on consent, settle such issue to be tried, and evidence as to any issue of fact may be given either orally or by affidavit or partly orally and partly by affidavit as the Judge in the circumstances thinks proper.
(2) The Judge may, where he considers it appropriate, adjourn a Civil Bill listed before him under this Order for plenary hearing as if the proceedings had been originated otherwise than in accordance with this Order, with such directions as to pleadings or discovery as may be appropriate.
9. On the hearing of any Civil Bill to which this Order applies, the Judge may give judgment for the relief to which the plaintiff appears to be entitled.
10. (1) The Judge may give any special directions touching the carriage or execution of any judgment or order, or the service thereof upon persons not parties, as he thinks just.
(2) The Judge or the County Registrar may make such order as to costs as he considers just, including an order measuring any costs awarded.”
4. The Form 2R annexed hereto shall be added to the Schedule of Forms annexed to the Circuit Court Rules immediately following Form 2Q.
Order: 43
Sales
The below amendment(s) have been made to this instrument
No43-S.I. No. 155 Of 2010: Circuit Court Rules (Land And Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009) 2010
1. If, in any action or matter relating to land, it shall appear necessary or expedient that the land, or any part thereof, shall be sold, the Court may order the same to be sold, and any party bound by the order and in possession of the land, or in receipt of the rents and profits thereof, shall be compelled to deliver up such possession or receipt to the purchaser, or to such other person as the Court may direct.
2. In all cases where a sale, mortgage, partition or exchange is ordered, the Court, in addition to the powers already existing, shall have power to authorise the same to be carried out:
(a) by laying proposals before the Court for its sanction; or
(b) by proceedings out of Court, and any moneys produced thereby shall be paid into Court, or to trustees, or otherwise dealt with as the Court may order;
provided always that the Judge shall not authorise a sale out of Court unless and until he is satisfied that all persons interested in the lands to be sold, mortgaged, partitioned or exchanged, are before the Court, or are bound by the order for sale, mortgage, partition, or exchange.
3. When any property is ordered to be sold, the order shall direct who shall have the carriage of the sale and where the same shall be held, and by whom the conditions and contracts of sale and abstract of title, if any such be necessary, shall be prepared. Whenever in an action for the administration of the estate of a deceased person, or the execution of the trusts of a written instrument, a sale is ordered of any property vested in any executor, administrator or trustee, the conduct of such sale shall be given to such executor, administrator or trustee, unless the Judge shall otherwise direct.
4. The Judge may refer to a Counsel appointed by him any matter relating to the investigation of the title to any land with a view to an investment of money in the purchase, or on mortgage thereof, or with a view to a sale thereof, or to the settlement of a draft or a conveyance, mortgage, settlement, or other instrument, or any other matter which the Judge may think fit.
5. Where a judgment or order directs any property to be sold, unless otherwise ordered, the same shall be sold to the best purchaser, and if the sale be approved by the Court, all proper parties shall join in the sale and conveyance as the Court shall direct.
6. If, in any action or matter relating to goods or chattels, it shall appear necessary or expedient that the same, or any of the same, shall be sold, the Judge may order such sale by any person or persons named in such order, and in such manner, and on such terms as he may think desirable, and in any case in which such goods or chattels are of a perishable nature, or likely to deteriorate from keeping, or in which it may be desirable for any other just and sufficient reason to have an immediate sale, such order for sale may be made at any time after the commencement of the proceedings.
Amendment to: Order 43
S.I. No. 155 of 2010: Circuit Court Rules (Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009) 2010
1. These Rules, which may be cited as the Circuit Court Rules (Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009) 2010, shall come into operation on the 13th day of May 2010.
2. These Rules shall be construed together with the Circuit Court Rules 2001 to 2010.
3. The Circuit Court Rules are amended:
….
(iii) by the substitution for rule 2 of Order 43 of the following rule:
“2. Where a sale, mortgage, partition or exchange is ordered, or an order is made under section 31 or section 94 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, the Court, in addition to the powers already existing, may authorise effect to be given to its order:
(a) by laying proposals before the Court for its sanction; or
(b) by proceedings out of Court, and any moneys produced thereby shall be paid into Court, or to trustees, or otherwise dealt with as the Court orders;
provided always that the Judge shall not authorise a sale out of Court unless and until he is satisfied that all persons interested in the land are before the Court, or are bound by the order.”;