estates, appointments of Civil claims from $5.00 up to
concerning questions arising on trustees, company matters, etc. and including $1,000 are heard in the Court's Summary Jurisdic- tion by the Puisne Judge as are all matters arising out of distraints for non-payment of rent. Cases in the Probate, Divorce, Ad- miralty and Bankruptcy Jurisdictions of the court are usually heard by the Chief Justice. Indictable offences are first heard before magistrates and are committed to the criminal sessions which are held once every month; these cases are usually divided between two judges.
cases. A right of appeal exists in all the above
Appeals are heard by a Full Court consisting of two or more judges. Under the Magistrates Ordinance, 1932, as amended by Ordin- ance No. 19 of 1935, any person aggrieved may appeal to a judge from the decision of a magistrate in a summary way. This form of appeal is heard by a single judge who may reserve the appeal or any point in it for consideration by the Full Court, or may direct the appeal or the point to be argued before the Full Court.
The business of the Courts during 1948 was again restricted by the continuance in force of the Moratorium which was not lifted until the 1st December, 1948. No ceremony in connection with the opening of the Assizes was held during the year since it was decided that the ceremony might more suitably be held at the First Assize of the new year.
Women jurors, who were first appointed in 1947, continued to serve in Assize cases.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court in addition to dis- charging the functions with which the title of his office connects him, also acts in the capacity of Official Trustee, Official Ad- ministrator and Registrar of Companies, administering trust estates and deceased persons' estates and registering companies under the Companies Ordinance, 1932.
Bills of Sale are also registered with the Registrar.
Work done in the Supreme Court.
During the year 1948, 357 actions were instituted in the Original Jurisdiction and 411 in the Summary Jurisdiction as compared with 340 and 229 respectively in 1947. There were also 372 Distraints for Rent. In the Probate Jurisdiction 749 grants (160 probates and 589 Letters of Administration) were made by the Court, and 208 Grants by other British Courts were sealed making a total of 957 grants during the year as against 888 grants and 232 grants by other British Courts in 1947. Out
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