38. By Applicants letter dated 1 February of the Respondent's the Applicants 2013, the Registry notified Preliminary Objections, to file their Reply, if any, within and the invited thirty (30) days of receipt of the notification. 39. By letter dated 18 February 2013, the Applicants submited their comments to the preliminary objections raised by the Respondent. 40. By letter dated 21 February 2013, the Registrar forwarded to the Respondent the Applicants’ response to its preliminary objections, and requested the Respondent to file its comments, if any, within thirty (30) days, from the date of receipt of the notification. 41. By Note Verbale dated 7 March 2013, the Respondent submitted to the Registry, its Response to the Application, pursuant to Rule 37 of the Rules. 42. By letter dated 12 March 2013, the Registry transmitted the Respondent's Response to the Applicants, and invited the latter to file its Reply within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notification. 43. By letter dated 4 April 2013, the Applicants filed their Reply to the Respondent's Response, including a request for the said Response to be expunged from the proceedings as time barred. By letter dated 9 April 2013, the Registry forwarded the Re} oe of the Applicants to the Respondent. a 44. a -