High Court of Malawi Civil Division - 2017 April

8 judgments
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Results. 8 judgments found.

8 judgments
April 2017
Appellant deprived of right to be heard where magistrate entered judgment on a qualified admission without a substantive hearing.
  • Civil procedure — natural justice — right to be heard (audi alteram partem) — qualified admissions — requirement for substantive hearing before entering judgment — setting aside judgment and ordering rehearing.
24 April 2017
Repossession held justified; no trespass or detinue; distress claim failed; defendant must return the cooker.
  • Repossession and secured transactions; trespass to chattels; detinue; scope of collateral under loan agreement; damages for distress.
10 April 2017
Stay of execution application struck off for being filed in the wrong court; applicant must apply in trial court.
  • Civil procedure — stay of execution — procedural requirement to apply in the trial court — improper listing of application — matter struck off the roll.
9 April 2017
Court ordered dismissal for want of prosecution unless claimants show intention to proceed within 18 days.
  • Civil procedure — dismissal for want of prosecution; court case‑management; adjournment for non‑attendance; requirement to show intention to proceed within prescribed time.
9 April 2017
Appointment as GVH void ab initio for failure to follow customary procedure; removal lawful and DC only facilitated, injunction vacated.
  • Chieftaincy law — customary appointment of Group Village Headmen — validity and void ab initio; Chiefs Act (sections 4, 9, 11, 7) — powers to appoint and remove; Administrative law — procedural fairness in dispute resolution; Role of District Commissioner — facilitator not removing authority; Interim injunction — vacated for suppression of facts.
6 April 2017
Court found the driver negligent and insurer directly liable under s65A, awarding damages and costs to the plaintiff.
  • Road traffic accident — Negligence (duty, breach, causation) — Police report as evidence — Insurer liability under s65A Road Traffic Act — Damages for loss of use, inconvenience and repairs — Costs.
5 April 2017
Interlocutory injunction refused where applicant failed to show clear title, evidence of eviction, and balance of convenience.
  • Interlocutory injunction — Order 29 RSC — requirement to show triable issue/clear right and balance of convenience — insufficiency of title evidence (undated, unsigned, unwitnessed lease) — absence of proof of eviction — dismissal as frivolous and vexatious.
4 April 2017
A village headman cannot validly sell customary land; allocations contrary to customary tenure are void and subject to eviction.
  • Customary land — Communal tenure — Chiefs’ power to allocate use and occupation — Sale of customary land void — Lease founded on unlawful allocation void ab initio — Remedies: eviction, injunction, restitution, costs.
4 April 2017