The East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure 2013 (b) a party may, in his or her pleading, expressly join issue on the immediately preceding pleading. (2) There can be no joinder of issues on an application, claim or counterclaim. (3) A joinder of issues operates as a denial of every material, allegation of fact made in the pleading in question except what is stated to be admitted Closure of pleadings No filing after close of pleadings 45. The pleadings, in any case, shall be closed fourteen (14) days after service of the reply, or, if no reply is served, fifteen (15) days after service of the response or defence or the defence to a counterclaim. 46. (1) After the close of the written proceedings, no further documents may be submitted to the Court by either party except with leave of the Court. (2) The party desiring to produce a document after closure of pleadings shall deposit, at the registry, the original or a certified copy thereof and shall be responsible for serving a copy thereof to the other party and shall file a return of service in the registry. The other party shall be held to have given its consent if it does not lodge an objection to the production of the document within seven (7) days of service. (3) In the event of objection, the Court may, after hearing the parties, authorise production of the document if it considers production necessary. (4) If a new document is produced under this Rule, the other party shall have an opportunity of commenting upon it and of submitting documents in support of its comments. (5) No party may, during the oral proceedings, refer to the contents of any document which was not produced as part of the written proceedings or in accordance with this Rule. 30