Rule 85. Suo motu summoning of documents

Chapter XI · Discovery, Production and Return of Documents

85.1 The rule

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the Appellate Tribunal may, suo motu, issue summons for production of public document or other documents in the custody of a public officer.

85.2 What it does

Rule 85 lets the Bench call for a public document, or any document held by a public officer, without anybody applying for it. The non obstante clause frees the Tribunal from the conditions Chapter XI imposes on a party — the plain-paper application, the relevancy recital, the certified-copy diligence limb in r.84(2) — none of which can apply to the Tribunal's own act.