The Ordinary Cause Rules of the sheriff court shall be amended as follows:–
(a) for rule 28, substitute the following rule:–
Reponing
(28)
(1) In any action (other than an action of divorce or of separation), the defender may apply to be reponed by lodging with the sheriff clerk, before implement in full of a decree in absence, a note setting forth his proposed defence and explaining his failure to appear.
(2) A copy of the note lodged under paragraph (1) shall be served on the pursuer.
(3) The sheriff may, following consideration of the note, recall the decree so far as not implemented subject to such order as to expenses as seems to him just; and the cause shall thereafter proceed in all respects as if the defender had appeared.
(4) A reponing note, when duly lodged and served upon the pursuer, shall have effect to sist diligence.
(5) Any interlocutor or order recalling, or incidental to the recall of, a decree in absence shall be final and not subject to review.
(b) Rules 29 to 32 shall be omitted.