A 76
[Subsidiary]
CAP. 4 The Rules of the Supreme Court-Order 21 [1988 Ed.
Discontinuance of action, etc., without leave (O. 21, r. 2)
2. (1) Subject to paragraph (2A) the plaintiff in an action begun by writ may, without the leave of the Court, discontinue the action, or withdraw any particular claim made by him therein, as against any or all of the defendants at any time not later than 14 days after service of the defence on him or, if there are two or more defendants, of the defence last served, by serving a notice to that effect on the defendant concerned.
(2) Subject to paragraph (2A) a defendant to an action begun by writ may, without the leave of the Court-
(a) withdraw his defence or any part of it at any time,
(b) discontinue a counterclaim, or withdraw any particular claim made by him therein, as against any or all of the parties against whom it is made, at any time not later than 14 days after service on him of a defence to counterclaim or, if the counterclaim is made against two or more parties, of the defence to counterclaim last served,
by serving a notice to that effect on the plaintiff or other party concerned.
(2A) A party in whose favour an interim payment has been ordered, in accordance with Order 29, may not discontinue any action or counterclaim, or withdraw any particular claim therein, except with the leave of the Court or the consent of all the other parties.
(3) Where there are two or more defendants to an action begun by writ not all of whom serve a defence on the plaintiff, and the period fixed by or under these rules for service by any of those defendants of his defence expires after the latest date on which any other defendant serves his defence, paragraph (1) shall have effect as if the reference therein to the service of the defence last served were a reference to the expiration of that period.
This paragraph shall apply in relation to a counterclaim as it applies in relation to an action begun by writ with the substitution for references to a defence, to the plaintiff and to paragraph (1), of references to a defence to counterclaim, to the defendant and to paragraph (2) respectively.
(3A) The plaintiff in an action begun by originating summons may, without the leave of the Court, discontinue the action or withdraw any particular question or claim in the originating summons, as against any or all of the defendants at any time not later than 14 days after service on him of the defendant's affidavit evidence filed pursuant to Order 28, rule 1A(2) or, if there are two or more defendants, of such evidence last served, by serving a notice to that effect on the defendant concerned.
(3B) When there are two or more defendants to an action begun by originating summons not all of whom serve affidavit evidence...