s 82 Conversion of pending petitions and motions to writs of summons, originating summonses and summonses
82.—(1) Where —(a) under any written law any civil action or application may be commenced in or made to the Court of Appeal, a Judge of Appeal, the High Court, a Judge or the Registrar (called in this section the Court); and (b) the provisions under any written law by virtue of which such an action or application was required to be commenced or made by way of a petition, a motion or an originating motion have been amended so as to require that any such action or application must, as from the date appointed for the coming into operation of the amendment, be commenced or made by way of a writ of summons, an originating summons or a summons, then, if any such action or application that has been commenced or made before that date by way of a petition, a motion or an originating motion is still pending before the Court on or after that date, the Court may, if it thinks just and expedient, order that the action or application (called in this section a pending action or application) be converted to and be continued as an action or application commenced or made by way of a writ of summons, an originating summons or a summons, as is appropriate. (2) The Chief Justice may, where he or she considers it necessary or expedient to improve efficiency in the administration of justice, by order direct that any class or description of pending actions or applications before the Court be converted to and be continued as actions or applications commenced or made by way of a writ of summons, an originating summons or a summons, as is appropriate. (3) Where pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) any pending action or application has been converted to an action or application commenced or made by way of a writ of summons, an originating summons or a summons —(a) the action or application is to be continued in accordance with the provisions of the relevant written law and the practice and procedure as are in force and applicable in relation to that action or application at the time of the conversion; and (b) the Court may give to the parties to the action or application such directions as to the conduct and costs of the action or application as it thinks just and expedient for the purpose of facilitating the conversion of the action or application to an action or application commenced or made by way of a writ of summons, an originating summons or a summons (as the case may be) and its continuance as such.