[2008] UGCommC 17

[2008] UGCommC 17

The court found that the dismissal of the suit under Order 17 Rule 2 did not render the matter res judicata and that the applicant, due to the failure of its counsel to notify it of the hearing date, was deprived of the opportunity to present its case. The court exercised its inherent jurisdiction under Section 98...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2008] UGCommC 17
Parties
Applicant: Builtrust Construction Ltd; Respondent: Kalangala District Local Council
Court
Commercial Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
HCT-00-CC-MA 5 of 2008
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling
Outcome
application_granted
Legal Topics
Setting Aside Dismissal, Inherent Jurisdiction, Failure of Counsel, Reinstatement of Suit
Source Language
en
Civil Procedure Commercial and Corporate Setting Aside Dismissal Inherent Jurisdiction Failure of Counsel Reinstatement of Suit

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Parties

Builtrust Construction Ltd

Applicant

Kalangala District Local Council

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Miscellaneous Application / Ruling

  1. 1 Whether the dismissal of the suit under Order 17 Rule 2 of the Civil Procedure Rules should be set aside and the suit reinstated.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to relief due to the failure of its counsel to notify it of the hearing date and subsequent dismissal.
  3. 3 Whether the court has inherent jurisdiction to remedy the injustice caused by counsel's failure.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the dismissal of the suit under Order 17 Rule 2 did not render the matter res judicata and that the applicant, due to the failure of its counsel to notify it of the hearing date, was deprived of the opportunity to present its case. The court exercised its inherent jurisdiction under Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act to prevent injustice and set aside the dismissal, reinstating the suit. The court further directed that the suit be transferred to the Chief Magistrates' Court of Masaka Magisterial Area for disposal, as the claim fell within its jurisdiction and the cause of action arose in that area. The applicant was ordered to bear the respondent's costs of the...

Court Disposition

application_granted

Orders

  • The dismissal of the suit is set aside and the suit is reinstated.
  • The suit is transferred to the Chief Magistrates' Court of Masaka Magisterial Area for disposal.