Part 53
Committal and Confiscation of assets
Contents of this part
| Scope of this Part | Rule 53.1 |
| Order specifying time for act to be done | Rule 53.2 |
| When committal order or confiscation of assets order may be made | Rule 53.3 |
| Committal order or confiscation of assets order against an officer of a body corporate. | Rule 53.4 |
| Need for permission to apply for committal order | Rule 53.5 |
| Making committal order or confiscation of assets order when judgment or order not served | Rule 53.6 |
| Undertakings | Rule 53.7 |
| Application for committal order or confiscation of assets order | Rule 53.8 |
| Service of notice of hearing | Rule 53.9 |
| Powers of the court | Rule 53.10 |
| Restoration of adjourned hearing | Rule 53.11 |
| Application for enforcement of suspended committal order or order for confiscation of assets | Rule 53.12 |
| Special provisions relating to an order for confiscation | Rule 53.13 |
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| Scope of this Part 53.1 This part deals with the power of the court to commit a person to prison or to make an order confiscating assets for failure to comply with an order requiring him to do or an undertaking to do an act within a specified time or not to do an act.
Order specifying time for act to be done 53.2 (1) Where a judgment or order specifies the time or date by which an act must be done the court may by order specify another time or date by which the act must be done. (2) Where a judgment or order does not specify the time or date by which an act must be done the court may by order specify a time or date by which the act must be done. (3) The time by which the act must be done may be specified by reference to the time that the order is served on the judgment debtor. (4) An application for an order under this rule may be made without notice but the court may direct that notice be given to the judgment debtor. (5) Any order made under this rule must be served in the manner required by rule 53.3 (in the case of an individual judgment creditor) or 53.4 (enforcement against an officer of a body corporate)
When committal order or confiscation of assets order may be made 53.3 Neither a committal order nor a confiscation of assets order may be made unless - (a) the order requiring the judgment debtor to do an act within a specified time or to not to do an act has been served personally on the judgment debtor; and (b) at the time that order was served it was endorsed with a notice in the following terms: "NOTICE: If you fail to comply with the terms of this order you will be in contempt of court and may be liable to be imprisoned or to have your assets confiscated.", or in the case of an order served on a body corporate in the following terms: "NOTICE: If you fail to comply with the terms of this order you will be in contempt of court and may be liable to have your assets confiscated." (c) where the order required the judgment debtor or do an act within a specified time or by a specified date it was served on the judgment debtor in sufficient time to give him a reasonable opportunity to do the act before the expiration of that time or before that date. Committal order or confiscation of assets order against an officer of a body corporate. 53.4 Neither a committal order nor a confiscation of assets order may be made against an officer of a body corporate unless - (a) a copy of the order requiring the judgment debtor to do an act within a specified time or to not to do an act has been served personally on the officer against whom the order is sought; and (b) at the time that order was served it was endorsed with a notice in the following terms: "NOTICE: If [name of body corporate] fails to comply with the terms of this order it will be in contempt of court and you [name of officer] may be liable to be imprisoned or have your assets confiscated."; and (c) Where the order required the judgment debtor or do an act within a specified time or by a specified date, it was served on the judgment debtor in sufficient time to give him a reasonable opportunity to do the act before the expiration of that time or before that date.
Need for permission to apply for committal order 53.5 (1) No application for a committal order may be made without the permission of the court where the contempt alleged is - (a) in disobedience to a writ of habeas corpus, or is committed in connection with an application for such a writ, or is in disobedience to an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari; or (b) is committed in connection with - (i) criminal proceedings, except where the contempt is committed in the face of the court or consists of disobedience to an order of the court or a breach of an undertaking to the court; or (ii) proceedings in an inferior court; or (c) is committed otherwise than in connection with proceedings. (2) An application for permission to apply for a committal order may be made without notice but must be supported by evidence. (3) Where such permission is given - (i) unless an application is made for a committal order within 14 days the permission lapses; and (ii) the application for the committal order may not be heard till at least 8 days have passed since service of the application unless the court gives permission.
Making committal order or confiscation of assets order when judgment or order not served 53.6 (1) This rule applies where the judgment or order has not been served. (2) Where the order required the judgment debtor not to do an act the court may make a committal order or confiscation of assets order if it is satisfied that the person against whom the order is to be enforced has had notice of the terms of the order by - (a) being present when the order was made; or (b) by being notified of the terms of the order by facsimile transmission or otherwise. (3) The court may make an order dispensing with service of the judgment or order under rule 53.3 or 53.4 if it thinks it just to do so.
Undertakings 53.7 An undertaking given to the court must if practicable be given in writing in the appropriate practice form and a copy of this form endorsed with a notice in accordance with rule 53.3(b) or 54.4(b) must, if practicable, be served on the person giving the undertaking.
Application for committal order or confiscation of assets order 53.8 . (1) The application must specify - (a) the precise term of the order or undertaking which it is alleged that the judgment debtor has disobeyed or broken; and (b) the exact nature of the alleged breach or breaches of the order or undertaking by the judgment debtor. (2) The application must be verified by an affidavit. (3) The applicant must prove - (a) service of the order endorsed with the notice under rule 53.3(b) or 54.3(b); or (b) if the order required the judgment debtor not to do an act, that the person against whom it is sought to enforce the order had notice of the terms of the order under rule 53.3(b) or 54.3(b); or (c) that it would be just for the court to dispense with service. Service of notice of hearing 53.9 (1) Notice of the time date and place of the hearing of the application must be served personally on the judgment debtor or, in the case of a body corporate, the officer against whom it is sought to make a committal order or confiscation of property order. (2) A copy of the application and of the evidence in support must be served with the notice.
Powers of the court 53.10 The court may - (a) make a committal order against a judgment debtor who is an individual; or (b) make a confiscation of assets order against a judgment debtor who is an individual or a body corporate; or (c) make committal order against an officer of a judgment debtor which is a body corporate; or (d) make a confiscation of assets order against an officer of a judgment debtor which is a body corporate; or (e) adjourn the hearing of the application to a fixed date; or (f) accept an undertaking from the judgment debtor or an officer of a body corporate who is present in court and adjourn the application generally; or (g) make a suspended committal order or confiscation of assets order on such terms as the court considers just; or (h) dismiss the application, and may make such order as to assessed costs as it considers to be just.
Restoration of adjourned hearing 53.11 (1) Where an application for a committal order or a confiscation of assets order has been adjourned under rule 53.9(e) the court office may fix a date for the adjourned hearing. (2) An application for the order may be made without notice but must be supported by evidence specifying the exact nature of any breaches of the undertaking given to the court. (3) The order must state the date time and place of the restored hearing and must be served on the judgment creditor or the officer of a body corporate personally at least 3 days before the adjourned hearing. (4) A copy of the evidence under paragraph (2) must be served with the order.
Application for enforcement of suspended committal order or order for confiscation of assets 53.12 (1) Where the court has imposed terms under rule 53.9(g)and the judgment creditor alleges that the judgment debtor or the officer of a body corporate has failed to comply with the terms imposed the judgment creditor may apply for the suspended order to be enforced. (2) The application must be in the appropriate practice form and must specify - (a) the precise term or terms of the suspended order which it is alleged that the judgment debtor has disobeyed; and (b) the exact nature of the alleged breach or breaches of the suspended order by the judgment debtor. (3) The application must be verified by an affidavit. (4) The court office must fix a hearing of the application. (5) The notice of hearing must be served on the judgment creditor or the officer of a body corporate personally at least 3 days before the adjourned hearing. (6) A copy of the evidence under paragraph (2) must be served with the order.
Special provisions relating to an order for confiscation 53.13 (1) The judgment creditor may not sell any property seized under an order for confiscation without the permission of the court. (2) An application for permission must be supported by evidence. |