Article 31 Small claims procedure

After Order 19, rule 2(4), there shall be inserted the following new paragraph–

“(4A)

Where the registrar is minded to rescind the reference to arbitration of his own motion–

(a)

the proper officer shall notify the parties in writing specifying on which of the grounds mentioned in paragraph (4)(a) to (d) the registrar is minded to rescind the reference;

(b)

within 14 days after service of the proper officer’s notice on him, a party may give written notice stating his reasons for objecting to the rescission of the reference;

(c)

if in any notice under sub-paragraph (b) a party so requests, the proper officer shall fix a day for a hearing at which the registrar shall decide whether the reference should be rescinded;

and, in the absence of any request under sub-paragraph (c), the registrar may rescind the reference in the absence of the parties.”.