23Conduct of directions hearing

23 Conduct of directions hearing

(1)  The Court may give a case management direction in relation to a proceeding on any occasion that the proceeding is before the Court.

(2)  A case management direction may be given on the Court's own motion or initiative or on the application of a party or an interested person.

(3)  A party, or an interested person, to a proceeding may apply in writing to the registrar for a case management direction.

(4)  An application under subrule (3) is to set out, in a clear and concise manner, the terms of each direction, or order, sought in the application.

(5)  A person who has applied to the registrar under subrule (3) is to give a copy of the application to the other parties to the proceeding.

(6)  The registrar is to give notice, to the parties to a proceeding, of a directions hearing that has been convened at the initiative of the Court.

(7)  The Court may permit, if it is just and fair to do so, a party to apply for a direction, or order, under this rule in one or more of the following ways:

(a) orally;

(b) in the absence of any other party;

(c) with or without notice to any other party.

(8)  If the Court thinks fit and the parties to a proceeding agree, the Court may hear and determine the proceeding at a directions hearing.