High Court of Malawi - 2026

22 judgments
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Results. 22 judgments found.

22 judgments
May 2026
Application to set aside default judgment dismissed for unexplained delay, lack of meritorious defence and counsel misconduct.
  • Civil procedure — Default judgment — Setting aside — Requirements under Order 12 Rule 21 CPR 2017 — Reasonable cause, meritorious defence, explanation of delay, interest of justice
  • Professional misconduct — Misleading court and unauthorised removal/replacement of court file documents — Abuse of process and adverse effect on relief
8 May 2026
Whether a blanket prohibition on Indian Hemp possession without a religious exemption unjustifiably limits the applicant's freedom of religion.
  • Constitutional law
    • — Freedom of religion — Prohibition on sacramental cannabis possession — Justifiable limitation under s44 of the Constitution
    • — Equality — Facially neutral drug prohibition — Not discrimination where law applies generally
  • Human rights — Human dignity — Criminalisation of religious drug possession — Does not necessarily negate essential content of dignity right
8 May 2026
April 2026
Court dismissed challenge: NGO lacked standing and pension and written‑particulars exemptions were constitutional.
  • Constitutional law — Standing — Public interest/representative standing — Organisations must establish a direct or sufficient interest to litigate on behalf of others
  • Labour and social security — Pension exemptions — Ministerial power to exempt classes from mandatory occupational pension — Reasonableness, proportionality and non‑discrimination; Pension Act s11; Constitution ss13, 20, 30, 31
  • Employment law — Written particulars of employment — Threshold of five employees — Constitutionality and permissible limitation; Employment Act s27(4)
16 April 2026
15 April 2026
8 April 2026
Statutory procedures must be followed to challenge freezing/restriction orders; defective CPR filings are rejected.
  • Civil procedure — Commencement of action — Summons (Specially Endorsed) vs "Statement of Case"; Statutory procedure — Financial Crimes Act and Corrupt Practices Act — remedies for freezing directives and restriction notices; Interlocutory applications — notice and signature requirements; Registry jurisdiction (Lilongwe v Blantyre)
2 April 2026
Court substituted imprisonment with compensation to secure the convict’s parental responsibility and child welfare.
  • Criminal law — Sexual offences — Sexual intercourse with person under 18 — Consent immaterial under section 138(1) Penal Code
  • Criminal procedure — Sentencing and disposal — Compensation and discharge as alternative to imprisonment under section 32 Penal Code and section 337(1)(c)(i) Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code
  • Family law — Civil remedies — Victim’s right to pursue maintenance under section 96 Marriage Divorce and Family Relations Act
1 April 2026
March 2026
31 March 2026
26 March 2026
26 March 2026
25 March 2026
19 March 2026
Amendment seeking to apply collection-costs rules enacted after proceedings commenced cannot be allowed as retrospective.
  • Civil procedure
    • — Amendment of pleadings — Application of new subsidiary legislation to pending proceedings — Retrospective operation and General Interpretation Act s 14(1)(a)
    • — Costs — Recoverability of statutory collection costs under Legal Education and Legal Practitioners (Remuneration) Rules 2025 — Non-retrospective application where proceedings commenced prior to enactment
18 March 2026
18 March 2026
12 March 2026
10 March 2026
February 2026
18 February 2026
January 2026
Airline's refusal to carry a disabled child without lawful or reasonable justification amounted to discrimination and violated dignity.
  • Disability discrimination in air carriage; reasonable accommodation and medical clearance; Chicago Convention Annex 9; right to equality and dignity; general (not punitive) damages awarded.
23 January 2026
Regulator lawfully conducted inquiry and later disciplinary hearing; ad hoc committee and concurrent criminal proceedings were permissible.
  • Administrative law — statutory interpretation of regulatory disciplinary powers — sections 17, 36 and 37 read together; delegation to committees and use of ad hoc panels permissible; distinction between inquiry and disciplinary hearing; concurrent criminal and disciplinary proceedings not per se unreasonable.
22 January 2026
21 January 2026
Withdrawal of a bail application does not terminate criminal proceedings; the court may grant release and issue case-management directions to protect liberty.
  • Constitutional rights — personal liberty and 48-hour rule — withdrawal of bail application — effect on ongoing criminal proceedings — habeas corpus as appropriate remedy — court's discretion to grant reliefs mero motu; case management and disclosure obligations.
20 January 2026
14 January 2026