“Part 15
“Constituency election petitions

“Preliminary provisions

“796 Interpretation

• In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

  “Act means the Electoral Act 1993

  “Petition

  • “(a) Means an election petition presented under section 229(3) of the Act (that is, an election petition relating to either—

    • “(i) The return of a member of Parliament representing an electoral district; or

    • “(ii) A failure to present a return at an election for a member of Parliament representing an electoral district); and

  • “(b) Includes a petition complaining of no return that the Court, under section 229(2) of the Act, allows to be heard as provided with respect to an ordinary petition under section 229(3) of the Act:

  “Registrar of Electors means, in relation to an electoral district, the Registrar of Electors appointed under the Act for that district

  “Returning Officer means, in relation to an electoral district, the Returning Officer appointed under the Act for that district.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 3

“797 Application of this Part

• This Part applies to the determination, under sections 230 to 257 of the Act, of a petition.

“798 Application of other rules and practice of Court

• “(1) The other Parts of these rules (except the rules referred to in subclause (2)), and the general practice of the Court, apply where this Part applies except so far as they are modified by or inconsistent with the Act or this Part.

  “(2) The following rules do not apply where this Part applies:

  • “(a) Rule 16 (How security to be given):

  • “(b) Rule 60 (Power to make order for security for costs):

  • “(c) Rules 98 to 104 (Change of parties by death, etc):

  • “(d) Rule 106 (Proceeding commenced by filing statement of claim):

  • “(e) Rule 107 (Proper office of the Court):

  • “(f) Rule 120 (Notice of proceeding to be filed with statement of claim):

  • “(g) Rule 121 (Requirements as to notice of proceeding):

  • “(h) Rule 122 (Place and time for filing statement of defence):

  • “(i) Rule 123 (Place of trial):

  • “(j) Rule 129 (Filing and service of statement of defence):

  • “(k) Rule 130 (Requirements as to statement of defence):

  • “(l) Rules 135 to 144 (Summary judgment procedure):

  • “(m) Rules 426 to 436 (Setting down and fixtures for trial):

  • “(n) Rule 474 (Discontinuance of cause of action):

  • “(o) Rule 481 (Mode of trial).

“Petitions

“799 Petitions

• “(1) A petition must—

  • “(a) Be in form 83, and contain the information required by that form; and

  • “(b) Be signed by the petitioner or, if there are 2 or more petitioners, each petitioner, and

  • “(c) Be presented to the Court by being filed in the registry of the Court nearest to the place where the election was held.

  “(2) The Registrar of the Court must send a copy of the petition to the Returning Officer as soon as it is filed.

“Service of petition

“800 Service of petition

• A petition must be served as nearly as may be in the manner in which a statement of claim is served.

“Advertisement of petition

“801 Advertisement of petition

• “(1) Within 7 days of the filing of a petition, a petitioner must, at his or her own expense, publish the petition in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates.

  “(2) On an application made by a petitioner for the purpose, the Court may order that a petition need not be advertised in accordance with subclause (1).

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 17

“Representation of respondents

“802 Respondent must file notice

• Within 7 days of being served with a petition, a respondent to a petition must file in the registry of the Court in which the petition is filed a notice—

  • “(a) Signed by or on behalf of the respondent; and

  • “(b) Either—

    • “(i) Appointing a solicitor to act for the respondent in relation to the petition, or

    • “(ii) Stating that the respondent intends to act for himself or herself in relation to the petition; and

  • “(c) Stating, for the purposes of proceedings to determine the petition,—

    • “(i) An address for service; and

    • “(ii) If a solicitor is appointed to act for the respondent, any Post Office box address, document exchange box number, or facsimile number by which the solicitor will accept service of documents.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 16

“Security for costs

“803 Security by deposit of money

• Security given by deposit of money must be given by the deposit of the money to the credit of the High Court Trust Account.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 23

“804 Registrar of Court may withdraw money deposited as security

• The Registrar of the Court may from time to time withdraw from the High Court Trust Account all or part of any money deposited as security if the Court orders, or all parties to the proceedings agree, that that money be—

  • “(a) Paid to a respondent, for costs, charges, or expenses incurred by or on behalf of that respondent, or

  • “(b) Paid to a witness summoned on a petitioner's behalf, for costs, charges, or expenses incurred by or on behalf of that witness; or

  • “(c) Returned to a petitioner; or

  • “(d) Otherwise disposed of in accordance with the Act.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 24

“805 Security by bond

• “(1) Security given by bond must be given by a bond in form 84 containing the information required by that form.

  “(2) A bond may be executed by no more than 5 sureties.

  “(3) If a Registrar of the Court believes on reasonable grounds that a surety is insufficient, or that a bond is defective or inadequate, he or she may—

  • “(a) Require a surety to lodge an affidavit of justification with the bond; or

  • “(b) Impose any other requirement the Registrar of the Court considers necessary.

  “Compare: 1996/218, rr 25, 26, 27

“Particulars of objections

“806 Petitioner must list objections to votes

• “(1) This rule applies if a petitioner in his or her petition—

  • “(a) Alleges that a candidate not elected or returned has a majority of lawful votes; and

  • “(b) Objects to any vote.

  “(2) If this rule applies, the petitioner must prepare a list of—

  • “(a) Each vote objected to; and

  • “(b) The heads of objection to each of those votes.

  “(3) A petitioner must, at least 6 days before the day appointed for the trial of the petition, deliver a copy of the list—

  • “(a) To the Registrar of the Court; and

  • “(b) To any other party to the proceeding at that party's address for service.

  “(4) A petitioner must also deliver to the Registrar of the Court enough copies of that list to enable the Registrar to supply the copies required to be supplied under rule 808.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 29

“807 Respondent must list objections to petition

• “(1) This rule applies if—

  • “(a) A petitioner in a petition complains of an unlawful election or return and claims the seat for some person; and

  • “(b) A respondent to the petition intends to give evidence, under section 236(8) of the Act, to prove that that person was not duly elected.

  “(2) If this rule applies, the respondent must prepare a list of—

  • “(a) The specific grounds upon which the respondent claims that that person was not duly elected or returned; and

  • “(b) In relation to each of those grounds, particulars of the facts upon which the respondent intends to rely.

  “(3) The respondent must, at least 6 days before the day appointed for the trial, deliver a copy of the list—

  • “(a) To the Registrar of the Court; and

  • “(b) To any other party to the proceeding at that party's address for service.

  “(4) The respondent must also deliver to the Registrar of the Court enough copies of that list to enable the Registrar to supply the copies required to be supplied under rule 808.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 30

“808 Inspection and supply of lists

• On a request for the purpose by any person at the office of the Court, the Registrar of the Court must allow the person to inspect, or supply the person with a copy of, a list delivered to the Registrar under rule 806 or rule 807.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 32

“Trial of petition

“809 Notice of time and place appointed for trial of petition under section 236 of the Act

• “(1) The Court must appoint a time at or after which the petition is to be tried.

  “(2) The time appointed must be at least 21 days after the day on which the Court appoints that time.

  “(3) The Registrar of the Court must, at least 14 days before the day of the time appointed for the trial,—

  • “(a) Give a notice of the time and place appointed for the trial to each party to the proceeding at that party's address for service; and

  • “(b) Publish a notice of the time and place appointed for the trial in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates.

  “(4) A notice of the time and place appointed for the trial must be in form 85.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, rr 35, 36, 37

“Withdrawal of petition

“810 Notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw petition under section 252 of the Act

• “(1) A petitioner who intends to apply to the Court for leave to withdraw a petition must, at least 7 days before the time appointed for the hearing of the application,—

  • “(a) Serve a copy of a notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw the petition on each respondent to the petition; and

  • “(b) Publish a notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw the petition at least once in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates.

  “(2) A notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw a petition must be in form 86 and contain the information required by that form.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 40

“811 Form of application for leave to withdraw petition

• An application for leave to withdraw a petition must be in form 87.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 42

“812 Time and place of hearing of application for leave to withdraw petition

• “(1) The Court must appoint a time at or after which an application for leave to withdraw a petition is to be heard.

  “(2) The time appointed must be at least 8 days after the day on which the Court appoints the time.

  “(3) The Registrar of the Court must, in such manner as the Court may direct, give notice of the time and place of the hearing to—

  • “(a) Each respondent; and

  • “(b) Each person who, under rule 813(b), gives notice of an intention to apply to be substituted as a petitioner.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 41

“813 Application to be substituted as a petitioner

• A person may, at a hearing of an application for leave to withdraw a petition, apply to be substituted as a petitioner in respect of the petition, if (and only if)—

  • “(a) The person would, under section 230(1) of the Act, have been entitled to have presented the petition; and

  • “(b) The person has given the Registrar of the Court, within 7 days after the publication of the notice of intention to apply for leave to withdraw the petition, written notice that the person intends to apply to be substituted as a petitioner in respect of the petition.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 44

“Abatement of petition

“814 Notice of abatement of petition under section 255(3) of the Act

• “(1) If a petition abates under section 255(1) of the Act (because of the death of a sole petitioner or of the survivor of several petitioners), the Registrar of the Court must, on learning of the death,—

  • “(a) Serve a notice of the abatement on each respondent; and

  • “(b) Publish the notice of the abatement at least once in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates.

  “(2) A notice of the abatement must be in form 88.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 45

“815 Application to be substituted as petitioner on abatement

• An application under section 255(3) of the Act (to be substituted as petitioner on the abatement of a petition) must be made by written notice given to the Registrar of the Court.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 46

“Withdrawal and substitution of respondent before trial

“816 Notice of respondent's death or loss of seat before trial of petition under section 256(1)(a) or (c) of the Act

• “(1) This rule applies if, before the trial of a petition, a respondent (other than a Returning Officer or a Registrar of Electors) dies or loses his or her seat because the House of Representatives resolves that his or her seat is vacant.

  “(2) If this rule applies, the Registrar of the Court must, on learning of the death or the loss by the respondent of his or her seat, give notice of the death or loss.

  “(3) The Registrar of the Court must give the notice by—

  • “(a) Publishing the notice at least once in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates; and

  • “(b) Leaving a copy of the notice signed by him or her, or on his or her behalf, with the Returning Officer; and

  • “(c) Serving a copy of the notice signed by him or her, or on his or her behalf, on each petitioner.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 47

“817 Notice of intention not to oppose petition under section 256(1)(b) of the Act

• “(1) A respondent to a petition (other than a Returning Officer or a Registrar of Electors) who does not intend to oppose the petition must give written notice of that intention to the Registrar of the Court at least 10 days before the time appointed for the trial of the petition.

  “(2) A respondent who gives notice must immediately—

  • “(a) Publish the notice in a newspaper circulating in the district to which the petition relates; and

  • “(b) Leave a copy of the notice with the Returning Officer; and

  • “(c) Serve a copy of the notice on each petitioner.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 48

“818 Notice of application to be admitted as respondent to oppose petition

• An application under section 256(1) of the Act (to be admitted as a respondent to oppose a petition) must be made by written notice given to the Registrar of the Court.

  “Compare: SR 1996/218, r 49.”.