Rule 3 Lodging of certificate of readiness

In any proceedings commenced by civil bill in which a notice of intention to defend has been served the plaintiff shall, [^f1subject to paragraph (1A) and] after the conclusion of all interlocutory matters, request the chief clerk to enter the proceedings for hearing by delivery to the chief clerk at his office of a certificate of readiness in Form 43 and shall, at the same time, cause to be served on the other party or parties to the proceedings a copy of the certificate of readiness.

^f2 [^f3 Subject to paragraph (1B),] a certificate of readiness may not be delivered to the chief clerk until the expiry of 21 days following the date of service of the notice of intention to defend.]

^f4 The plaintiff must notify the defendant in writing of his intention to lodge the certificate of readiness no later than 14 days prior to lodging the certificate.]

In any proceedings in which a notice of intention to defend has been served the chief clerk shall, if no certificate of readiness has been delivered to him within a period of 6 months immediately following the date of service of the notice of intention to defend, list the proceedings before the judge [^f5) or district judge as the case may be] and notify the parties accordingly and the judge [ or district judge as the case may be] may issue such directions concerning the future conduct of any such proceedings as he considers appropriate [^f6 including, in particular, an order that the proceedings be stayed or dismissed.]