East African Court of Appeal - 1960 June

Criminal law-Trial-Irregularity-Accused absent from part of trial-Whether trial vitiated—Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 27), s. 193 and s. 381 (K.). Criminal law-Practice-Entry of nolle prosequi—Simultaneous filing of new information—Both informations identical. Whether entry of nolle prosequi at trial discharges proceedings at preliminary inquiry-Whether trial a nullity-Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 27), s. 82, s. 89 (4), s. 233, s. 246, s. 250, s. 255, s. 275 and s. 299 (K.). 

Detinue-Burden of proof—Bond warrants endorsed over to appellant—Return demanded by respondent and refused by appellant-Whether proof of ownership gives immediate right to possession.

Criminal law-Murder-Provocation—Accused aware of previous adultery of his wife with paramour—Subsequent discovery of wife and paramour in flagrante delicto-Whether sufficient provocation to reduce murder to manslaughter— Penal Code, s. 187 and s. 188 (U.). 
 

Harbour-Meaning of "harbour premises"-Prosecution for refusal to obey lawful order of harbour management whilst on "harbour premises”- Whether "harbour premises” includes open land within harbour area or only land in vicinity of harbour buildings—East African Harbours Regulations, 1952, reg. 2, reg. 273 and reg. 299.

Practice Sealing Sealing of court documents - Court order bearing ink impression of rubber stamp in place of embossed seal of court-Whether rubber stamp impression can be regarded as a seal of court—Meaning of “sealed with the seal of the court”—Validity of the order of court—Indian Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, O. 21, r. 24—Designs for Seals and Stamps Order, r. 3 (T.). 
 

Land-Possessory title—Arabs settled on land by German Administration of 
Tanganyika-No documents of title—Descendants of Arabs in occupation fifty years later-No other claimant to land-Whether occupiers have acquired right to permanent occupation—Land Ordinance (Cap. 113), s s. 2, s. 3 (T.)-German Imperial Ordinance, 1895, s. 1 (T.). Compulsory purchase-Arabs settled on land by German Administration of F Tanganyika-Descendants still in occupation fifty years later without any documents of title-Whether occupiers are owners with title of freehold nature and entitled to compensation—Land Acquisition Ordinance (Cap.118), s. 5, s. 9, s. 18, s. 20, s. 29 (T.)—Indian Land Acquisition Act, 1894-Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, s. 79—Land Ordinance (Cap. 113), s. 2, s. 3 (T.)—German Imperial Ordinance, 1895, s. 1, s. 6 (T.

Arbitration Award-Setting aside award-Error of law on face of award— Question of law submitted to arbitration—Whether question solely one of law —Mistake as to territorial law applicable—Whether error is one of construction of clause in arbitration agreement—Whether error justifies setting aside award-Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 15) (T.).

Arbitration—Award—Jurisdiction—Proper law of contract—Clause applying law of arbitration in Tanganyika incorporated in contract—Arbitrators resident and sitting in Kenya-Whether award can be validly filed in Tanganyika court—Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 15) (T.). 

Landlord and tenant—Lease for one year subject to annual option to renew— Option exercised regularly—Whether tenancy can be terminated by notice to quit-Whether yearly lease with option to renew is invalid for want of registration-Registration of Titles Ordinance, s. 108 and s. 110 (U.)

Practice Arrest before judgment—Action for possession of property and damages -Defendant arrested-Security for appearance furnished—Application by defendant to set aside order for arrest-Whether plaintiff entitled to order for defendant's arrest under O. 36, r. 1 Civil Procedure Rules—Civil Procedure Rules, O. 36, r. 1 (U.)—Civil Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 6) s. 12 (U.). 

Damages - Breach of contract for personal services assessment of damages should be made. Damages Mitigation—Whether the duty to mitigate entails outlay of expenditure. Income Tax-Award of damages-Damages for breach of service contract— Whether damages liable to income tax-Meaning of “compensation”—East African Income Tax (Management) Act, 1958, s. 3 and s. 5—Income Tax Act, 1918, Schedule E, r. 1. 
                                                           
             

Trust and trustee-Breach of trust-Loan of trust funds without independent valuation of security—Security later realising less than sum lent—Negligence but no dishonesty alleged against trustee-Provision in trust deed relieving trustee from liability for acts not attributable to dishonesty-Whether trustee entitled to be relieved from liability—Trustee Act 1893, s. 8 (1)— Judicial Trustee Act 1896, s. 3—Land (Law of Property and Conveyancing) Ordinance (Cap. 114), s. 2, s. 3, s. 10 (T.)—Land Ordinance (Cap. 113), s. 16 (T.). 
 

Bill of exchange-Cheque-Notice of dishonour within reasonable time—Notice given two days after having knowledge of dishonour-No averment in pleadings that notice unnecessary—Whether holder can rely on such plea without amendment of pleadings—Meaning of 'refer to drawer'—Bills of Exchange Ordinance (Cap. 291), s. 49 (12), s. 50 (1), s. 50 (2) (c) (iv), (K.). 
Practice-Trial-Amendment of pleading-Bill of exchange-Application for leave 
to amend after close of evidence for both parties-Whether refusal of application justified. 

Bankruptcy Composition—Scheme for payment of debts in full proposed by debtor-Approval by most creditors and by Official Receiver-Scheme disapproved by court-Appeal on grounds that discretion exercised on wrong principles—Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 30), s. 18 (10), s. 29 (3), s. 96 and s. 137 (1) (r) (K.)—Bankruptcy Act, 1890. 
 

Costs-Habeas corpus-Whether a successful applicant is entitled to costs. 

 Mortgage-Enforcement of security-Action against transferee of equity of redemption—Whether original borrowers must be parties to action—Whether witnesses to attestation of charge by borrowers must give evidence proving execution—Indian Transfer of Property Act, 1882, s. 85 —Indian Evidence Act, 1872, s. 68—Registration of Titles Ordinance (Cap. 160), s. 1, s. 23, s. 32, s. 46, s. 58 (K.)—Indian Acts (Amendment) Ordinance (Cap. 2), s. 2 (K.). 

Bill of exchange—Promissory note—Dishonour-Notice of dishonour—Whether notice necessary—Bills of Exchange Ordinance (Cap. 215), s. 3 (1), s. 48, s. 50, s. 52 (3), s. 90 (T.)—Civil Procedure Code, O. 6, r. 11, O. 7, r. 1, r. 11 (T.). 
Pleading Notice—Requirement that where notice is material, pleading must aver that notice given—Whether when notice is immaterial, pleading must so aver— Civil Procedure Code, O. 6, r. 11 (T.). 

Equitable mortgage—African lands trust—Receiving order made against debtors —Annual leases converted into 33-year leases under Registration of Titles Ordinance after but with effect from before receiving order-Whether equitable mortgage created by deposit of title requires memorandum in statutory form— Bankruptcy Rules, r. 265 (K.)—Native Lands Trust Ordinance (Cap. 100) s. 34 (K.)-Registration of Titles Ordinance (Cap. 160), (K.)-Equitable Mortgages Ordinance (Cap. 152), (K.). 

Nullity-Foreign decree-Husband and wife married in Palestine under Foreign Marriage Act, 1892—Husband a British subject—Wife at the time domiciled in Palestine-Subsequent residence of husband and wife in Britain and Kenya-Wife returns to Israel and there obtains decree of nullity on religious grounds—Whether Israel court has jurisdiction to make decree—Recognition of decree by Kenya courts—Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 144), s. 15 (K.)— Foreign Marriage Act, 1892. 

Practice-Service-Appearance entered by advocate for defendant—Advocate ceases to act for want of instructions—No fresh address for service furnished by defendant or former advocate—Whether service of hearing notice at address of defendant's former advocate sufficient-Civil Procedure Rules, C O. 3, r. 4 (U.). 
 

Criminal law-Charge of breaking and stealing-Conviction of conveying or possessing property suspected of having been stolen or unlawfully obtained- Whether "conveying” and “possession" had terminated-Penal Code, s. 296 (1) and s. 312 (T..)—Criminal Procedure Code, s. 187 (1) (T.). 

Bankruptcy—Bankruptcy notice served upon debtor—Affidavit in reply failing to comply with rules—Affidavit treated by registrar as application to set aside bankruptcy notice but no order made extending the time specified in the notice -Application dismissed-When time begins to run for presentation of petition Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 30), s. 3 (1) (g) and s. 6 (1) (c) (K.)— P Bankruptcy Rules, r. 100 and r. 101 (K.).