Malawi Law Society v Registrar of Financial Institutions (Civil Appeal 9 of 2021) [2022] MWSC 22 (10 November 2022)

Malawi Law Society v Registrar of Financial Institutions (Civil Appeal 9 of 2021) [2022] MWSC 22 (10 November 2022)

The Supreme Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction under Order III rule 21 (2) to re-enter an appeal that has been dismissed for non-attendance. The court's inherent jurisdiction does not extend to reviving a dismissed appeal where the rules do not provide for such power. The appellant's conduct demonstrated lack of...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2022] MWSC 22
Parties
Appellant: Malawi Law Society; Respondent: Registrar of Financial Institutions; Interested Party: Insurance Association of Malawi
Court
Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Malawi
Case Number
Civil Appeal 9 of 2021
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application to Re Enter Appeal After Dismissal for Non Attendance
Outcome
Application to re-enter the appeal dismissed with costs
Legal Topics
Appeal Re Entry, Dismissal for Non Attendance, Inherent Jurisdiction, Functus Officio
Source Language
en
Civil Procedure Judicial Review Appeal Re Entry Dismissal for Non Attendance Inherent Jurisdiction Functus Officio

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Parties

Malawi Law Society

Appellant

Registrar of Financial Institutions

Respondent

Insurance Association of Malawi

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Ruling on Application to Re Enter Appeal After Dismissal for Non Attendance

  1. 1 Whether the Supreme Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to re-enter an appeal dismissed for non-attendance under Order III rule 21 (2) of the Supreme Court of Appeal Rules
  2. 2 Whether the appellant demonstrated sufficient cause for non-attendance
  3. 3 Whether the court's inherent jurisdiction can be exercised to re-enter a dismissed appeal

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction under Order III rule 21 (2) to re-enter an appeal that has been dismissed for non-attendance. The court's inherent jurisdiction does not extend to reviving a dismissed appeal where the rules do not provide for such power. The appellant's conduct demonstrated lack of diligence and did not amount to sufficient cause for non-attendance. The court is functus officio after dismissal.

Court Disposition

Application to re-enter the appeal dismissed with costs

Orders

  • Application to re-enter the appeal is dismissed
  • Appellant to pay costs