(7) Consequences of Non-Attendance of the Parties If all the parties or any of them fail to appear at the hearing, the Court may proceed to dispose of the case in one of the following ways: x dismiss the claim or application ─ where neither Party appears [Rule 61(1)]; x dismiss the claim or application, but proceed with the Respondent’s counter claim where only the Respondent but not the Claimant /Applicant appears [Rule 61(2)]; x proceed with the case, but dismiss the counter claim where only the Claimant/Applicant (but not the Respondent) appears [Rule 61(3)]. proceed to determine the dispute or reference forthwith even if a Party fails to produce evidence or to cause the attendance of its witnesses, or to perform any other act necessary to further the progress of the case, [Rule 66(3)]. x x The above dismissals may subsequently be set aside and the status quo restored, if the Court is satisfied, upon application, that the absent Party was prevented by sufficient cause from appearing [Rule 61(2), (3), (4) & (6)]. 27. The Court’s Judgments, Rulings, Decisions, Decrees and Orders (1) Pronouncement and Contents of a Judgment [Rule 68] Judgment is normally delivered within 60 days from the conclusion of the hearing [Rule 68(1)]. The Court may give its judgment forthwith at the close of the hearing of the case; or subsequently on notice to the parties [Rule 68(2)]. Occasionally, the Court may, deliver only the decision of the Court and leave the reasons for the judgment to be given on a later date. Such date is notified by the Registrar to the parties. This normally happens when the time is too short for a comprehensive reasoned judgment, especially where an injunction or Court decision is urgently required to avoid an empty decree [Rule 68(3)]. Except for an order of a single judge, the Court gives one judgment signed by the Judges who participated in the case. A Judge dissenting is not required to sign the judgment, and may write a dissenting judgment [Rule 68(4)]. Judgments of the Court (including dissenting judgments) are sealed with the seal of the Court and deposited in the registry. The Registrar provides the parties with certified copies of the judgment [Rule 68(5)]. (2) Contents of an order Decisions of the Court are embodied in an order. The order is dated with the date the decision was delivered; contains particulars of the case (e.g. the Parties, their lawyers/agents, the facts, the issues for 16

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