In Order 73, in place of the existing rules 5 and 6 there shall be inserted the following rule:—
Time-limits and other special provisions as to appeals and applications under the Arbitration Acts
(5)
(1) An application to the Court—
(a) to remit an award under section 22 of the Arbitration Act 1950, or
(b) to set aside an award under section 23(2) of that Act or otherwise, or
(c) to direct an arbitrator or umpire to state the reasons for an award under section 1(5) of the Arbitration Act 1979,
must be made, and the summons or notice must be served, within 21 days after the award has been made and published to the parties.
(2) In the case of an appeal to the Court under section 1(2) of the Arbitration Act 1979, the notice must be served, and the appeal entered, within 21 days after the award has been made and published to the parties:
Provided that, where reasons material to the appeal are given on a date subsequent to the publication of the award, the period of 21 days shall run from the date on which the reasons are given.
(3) An application, under section 2(1) of the Arbitration Act 1979, to determine any question of law arising in the course of a reference, must be made, and notice thereof served, within 14 days after the arbitrator or umpire has consented to the application being made, or the other parties have so consented.
(4) For the purpose of paragraph (3) the consent must be given in writing.
(5) In the case of every appeal or application to which this rule applies, the notice of originating motion or, as the case may be, the originating summons, must state the grounds of the appeal or application and, where the appeal or application is founded on evidence by affidavit, or is made with the consent of the arbitrator or umpire or of the other parties, a copy of every affidavit intended to be used, or, as the case may be, of every consent given in writing, must be served with that notice.
Applications and appeals to be heard by Commercial Judges
(6)
(1) Any matter which is required, by rule 2 or 3, to be heard by a judge, shall be heard by a Commercial Judge, unless any such judge otherwise directs.
(2) Nothing in the foregoing paragraph shall be construed as preventing the powers of a Commercial Judge from being exercised by any judge of the High Court.