High Court of Malawi - 2023 May

11 judgments

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11 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
May 2023
Registrar may assess interest despite defendant's 'without prejudice' dollar-pegging claim; claimant awarded costs and assessment set down.
Civil procedure — Assessment of interest — Admissibility of 'without prejudice' communications — Registrar's jurisdiction under Order 25 Rule 1 to determine whether issue is contentious — Costs discretion under Order 31 Rule 3.
30 May 2023
Court consolidated two related suits over one loan offer, finding consolidation appropriate where borrower admitted default and issues are identical.
Commercial law – loan facilities contained in one offer – borrower default and lender's right to recall – injunctions as stopgap measures – consolidation of related proceedings to avoid abuse of process – sale of secured property and notice requirements – Loans Recovery Act applications where borrower admits default.
25 May 2023
Court refused to strike out claim for misnaming, ordered amendment of defendant's name and directed assessment of damages.
Civil procedure — Misnaming of party — Amendment of party name under Order 1 Rule 5 — Default judgment — Strike-out after judgment inappropriate; set-aside is proper remedy.
22 May 2023
19 May 2023
19 May 2023
16 May 2023
Employer breached statutory duty to guard dangerous machinery causing amputation; dismissal was unfair and claimant reinstated, damages to be assessed.
Occupational safety – Employer’s duty to fence or guard dangerous machinery – breach of s35 OSHWA establishing negligence; Contributory negligence – standard adapted to noisy, repetitive factory work – defence rejected; Causation – lack of guarding caused amputation; Employment law – burden on employer to prove redundancy under Employment Act s61 – dismissal unfair; Reporting obligations – failure to notify Director and Workers Compensation Trustee under OSHWA and Workers Compensation Act.
12 May 2023
Court entered judgment for the claimant on admitted loan liability and awarded costs; interest and costs to be assessed if not agreed.
Commercial law – loan default – admission of liability – judgment on liability despite disputed quantum – consent/agreed order inconsistent with court directions – assessment/taxation of interest and costs – enforcement of security/power of sale.
10 May 2023
Policy forcing Rastafarian children to cut dreadlocks for school admission violates rights to religion, education and equality.
Constitutional law – freedom of religion – manifestation by hair (dreadlocks) – right to education – equality and non‑discrimination – administrative law – policy (written or unwritten) amenable to review – Wednesbury irrationality and proportionality – reasonable accommodation – remedies: declarations, certiorari, mandamus, costs.
8 May 2023
Overtime claims require employee proof; unreasoned lump-sum awards for unfair dismissal must be set aside and reviewed.
Labour law — Unfair dismissal — Procedural fairness v substantive reason — Compensation assessment — Burden of proof for overtime on employee — Registrar/Assistant Registrar jurisdiction — Review under Rule 5A — Mitigation and contributory fault — Severance pay computation.
5 May 2023
Court held interdiction and prosecution null where suspension power rests with the President and Director enjoys statutory immunity absent alleged bad faith.
Administrative/constitutional law – judicial review of government action – permission to apply ex parte constitutes the review application; where no defence is filed claimant may seek scheduling conference or ask Court to end proceedings early – exception to mootness for decisions capable of repetition yet evading review – public officer immunity under Corrupt Practices Act (section 22) requires allegation/establishment of bad faith before proceedings – suspension/interdiction power of Director vested in President (section 6(3)).
5 May 2023