High Court of Malawi - 2023 November

9 judgments

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9 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
November 2023
Security for costs ordered where non-resident, impecunious claimant pursued uncertain and potentially vexatious claims.
Civil procedure – security for costs – claimant resident outside jurisdiction and impecunious – uncertain, inconsistent and potentially vexatious pleadings – lack of documentary proof of fund transfers – order for security for costs.
29 November 2023
An agreed consent order is binding; a party cannot later assess interest contrary to that order.
Civil procedure – Agreed/consent order – Binding effect of Agreed Order endorsed by court – Assessment of interest – Res judicata – Variation of consent order requires fresh action – Late payment interest claims.
29 November 2023
Court dismissed application to set aside stay of execution, distinguishing appellate ‘inchoate’ doctrine from enforcement procedure.
Civil procedure — Summary judgment on liquidated sum — Inchoate judgments and finality — Apex Court jurisprudence on appeals vs enforcement — Order 23 r 6(1) effect of judgment — Order 28 r 11 enforcement order and costs — Stay of execution pending assessment of interest and appeal.
23 November 2023
20 November 2023
Interlocutory injunction vacated due to suppression of material facts and absence of arguable tenancy right.
Interlocutory injunction — ex parte applications — duty of full and frank disclosure — suppression/misrepresentation of material facts — requirement of a serious question to be tried — tenancy evidence and allocation of statutory corporation housing — costs.
17 November 2023
Claimant had no contractual right of first refusal; council sale lawful; action dismissed and claimant ordered to vacate and pay arrears.
Local government property disposals – right of first refusal requires contractual or legal instrument; legitimate expectation requires judicial review procedure; failure to advertise does not automatically invalidate council disposals; specific council housing policy governs eligibility.
14 November 2023
Disciplinary minutes not obligatory; dismissal for supervisory neglect upheld; deduction of terminal benefits to recover shortages held unlawful.
Employment law – disciplinary procedure and natural justice – no legal requirement to record/tender disciplinary minutes; Appeals from IRC limited to questions of law or jurisdiction (Labour Relations Act s65); supervisory negligence may justify dismissal; Employment Act (ss52,56) restricts deductions from wages and prohibits offsetting unexplained stock shortages against terminal benefits.
14 November 2023
Application for summary disposal dismissed because disputed factual issues (including document authenticity and grounds for dismissal) require a full trial.
Industrial relations — Summary disposal on point of law — Procedure permissible only where no disputed facts — Disciplinary proceedings and alleged unfair dismissal — Authenticity of documents and compliance with Employment Act s57 — Matter ordered to substantive hearing.
14 November 2023
Applicant failed to show a real risk of injustice required to stay civil proceedings pending related criminal proceedings.
Civil procedure – Stay of civil proceedings pending criminal proceedings – Applicant must demonstrate a real risk of injustice, not merely allege prejudice – Burden of persuasion remains with the applicant – Alleged inability to cross-examine a witness insufficient without showing real risk of injustice.
3 November 2023