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Court Procedures Rules
605Discoverable documents
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605 Discoverable documents
(1) A document that is, or has at any time been, in the possession of a
party to a proceeding is discoverable by the party if it—
(a) relates, directly or indirectly, to a matter in issue in the
(b) is mentioned, expressly or by necessary implication, in a
pleading or notice filed in the proceeding.
(2) However, a document is not discoverable by a party if it—
(a) is filed in court in the proceeding; or
(b) relates only to 1 or more items of special damage, unless another
party to the proceeding asks for the document to be discovered;
or
(c) is mentioned in a pleading or notice filed in the proceeding by
another party, unless it is discoverable on another ground; or
(d) is a written communication in relation to the proceeding
between a solicitor for the party requiring disclosure and a
solicitor for the disclosing party; or
Rule 605
(e) is the party’s brief to the party’s counsel; or
(f) is an advice to the party from the party’s counsel.
(3) Also, a document is not discoverable by a party to a proceeding if the
document is—
(a) a written confidential communication in relation to the
proceeding, created after the commencement of the proceeding,
between—
(i) the party and a legal practitioner for the party; or
(ii) 2 or more legal practitioners for the party; or
(b) a note of an oral confidential communication in relation to the
proceeding, created after the commencement of the proceeding
(made in person or by telephone) between—
(i) the party and a legal practitioner for the party; or
(ii) 2 or more legal practitioners for the party.
(4) This rule applies unless the court otherwise orders.
(5) For this rule, a matter is in issue until it is—
(a) admitted or taken to be admitted; or
(b) withdrawn, struck out or otherwise disposed of.
confidential communication—see the Evidence Act, section 117.
confidential document—see the Evidence Act, section 117.
Rule 606