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Court Procedures Rules
715Inspection, detention, custody and preservation of
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715 Inspection, detention, custody and preservation of
property—orders etc
(1) The court may make an order for the inspection, detention, custody
or preservation of property if—
(a) the property is the subject of a proceeding or is property about
which an issue may arise in a proceeding; or
(b) inspection of the property is necessary for deciding an issue in a
(2) Subrule (1) applies whether or not the property is in the ownership,
possession, custody or power of a party.
(3) The court may make an order mentioned in subrule (1) at any stage
of a proceeding.
Division 2.9.3 Inspection, detention, custody and preservation of property
Rule 715
(4) Also, if the Supreme Court makes an order under division 2.8.6
(Preliminary discovery) in relation to a proceeding, the court may
make an order mentioned in subrule (1) before the proceeding starts
as if the proceeding had started.
(5) Without limiting subrule (1), the order may authorise a person to do
any of the following:
(a) enter a place or do something else to obtain access to the
property;
(b) take samples of the property;
(c) make observations of the property;
(d) make a record of the property, including, for example, take
photographs of the property;
(e) conduct an experiment on or with the property;
(f) observe a process;
(g) observe or read images or information contained in the property,
including, for example, by playing or screening a tape, film or
disk;
(h) photograph or otherwise copy the property or information
contained in the property;
(i) in a proceeding about a party’s right to a fund—pay the fund
into court or otherwise secure the fund.
(6) Without limiting rule 6901 (Orders may be made on conditions), an
order under this rule may be made on any of the following conditions:
(a) conditions about the payment of the costs of a person who is not
a party and who must comply with the order;
(b) conditions about giving security for the costs of a person or party
who must comply with the order;
(c) conditions about giving the usual undertaking as to damages.
Inspection, detention, custody and preservation of property Division 2.9.3
Rule 716
(7) The court must not make an order under this rule unless it is satisfied
that sufficient relief is not available under the Evidence Act,
section 169 (Failure to comply with requests).
(8) A party applying for an order under this rule must, as far as
practicable, serve an application in accordance with part 6.2
(Applications in proceedings) on everyone who would be affected by
the order if made.