the
Court.
This
Chamber
determines
again
the
case
on
merits by a new quorum.”
43. We are mindful of the function of due process in the determination of
matters
before this Court or indeed
process
advances
the
conduct
any tribunal.
of legal
The
notion of due
proceedings
according
to
established rules and principles for the protection and enforcement of
private rights.
See Black’s Law Dictionary, 8" Edition, pp.538,539.
Indeed, a basic and fundamental
proceeding
requirement of due
process in any
is provision for notice that sufficiently apprises
interested
parties of the pendency of the action and affords them an opportunity
to
present
their
objections
or defence.
See
Mullane
vs.
Central
Hanover Bank and Trust Co. 339 U.S 306, 314 (1950).
44. It is certainly not for cosmetic purposes that Rule 38 of this Court's
Rules
of
necessary
Procedure
enjoins
parties
to
particulars of any claim, defence
specifically
plead
‘the
or other matter’, or that
Rule 38(2)(b) explicitly underscores the need to plead matters which
would
otherwise
necessary
take
to avert the
an
opposite
undesirable
party
by
surprise.
This
practice of trial by ambush
promote the principle of natural justice. Consequently,
is
and
it seems to us
that the introduction of additional aspects of Act No. 1/26 at the stage
of submissions, that were not encapsulated in the Reference, offends
the provisions of Rule 38(1) and (2)(a) of the Court’s Rules, the notion
of due process and, ultimately, parties’ right to a fair hearing.
therefore,
refrain
from
a consideration
of the
additional
We do,
provisions
cited in the Applicants’ submissions and shall restrict ourselves to the
provisions of Act No. 1/26 as cited in the Reference.
Reference No.1 5 of 2014
Page 19