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Uimhir 23 de 1940.
ACHT UM FHEIDHMIÚ ORDUITHE CÚIRTE, 1940.
[An tiontódh oifigeamhail.]
CUID I.
An tAcht um Fheidhmiu Orduithe Cuirte, 1926, do Leasu.
An Príomh-Acht.
1.—Sa Chuid seo den Acht so, cialluíonn an abairt “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht um Fheidhmiú Orduithe Cúirte, 1926 (Uimh. 18 de 1926).
An Chuid seo den Acht so do léiriú.
2.—(1) Léighfear an Chuid seo den Acht so agus Cuid II den Phríomh-Acht mar éinní amháin agus, dá réir sin, gach focal agus abairt dá dtugtar brí áirithe sa Chuid sin II no léi, chun crícheanna na Coda san II, beidh aige, sa Chuid seo den Acht so, an bhrí do bheirtear dó amhlaidh.
(2) Sa Chuid seo den Acht so, cialluíonn an abairt “ordú tráthchoda” ordú ar n-a dhéanamh fé alt 17 den Phríomh-Acht, pé aca in aon íocaíocht amháin no i dtráthchoda is gá do réir an orduithe sin na fiacha agus na costaisí d'íoc agus, i gcás an t-ordú san d'atharú fén gCuid seo den Acht so, foluíonn an abairt sin an t-ordú san ar n-a atharú amhlaidh.
An t-am chun ordú scrúdúcháin d'iarraidh.
3.—Is ceaduithe ordú scrúdúcháin d'iarraidh tráth ar bith laistigh de shé bliana tar éis dáta an bhreithiúntais gur ina thaobh a bheidh an t-ordú san á lorg.
Ré feidhme orduithe tráthchoda.
4.—(1) Ordú tráthchoda déanfar tar éis an Achta so do rith, leanfa sé i bhfeidhm go ceann sé mblian o dháta a dhéanta agus go ceann na tréimhse sin amháin.
(2) Ní bheidh tráthchuid ar bith iníoctha ná ionbhainte amach is tráthchuid a fhásfaidh chun bheith dlite, fé ordú tráthchoda, tar éis an orduithe sin do scur de bheith i bhfeidhm.
(3) Ní léireofar éinní atá san alt so mar ní a chuireann de cheangal go bhforálfar le hordú tráthchoda iomlán na bhfiacha agus na gcostaisí d'íoc laistigh den tréimhse leanfaidh an t-ordú san i bhfeidhm.
Orduithe tráthchoda d'atharú.
5.—(1) Féadfaidh Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche, más ceart san dar leis ar iarratas an chreidmheasóra no an fhéichimh, an ní sin aca so leanas a bhainfidh leis an gcás do dhéanamh alos orduithe thráthchoda ar bith (ar n-a dhéanamh roimh an Acht so do rith no dá éis sin), sé sin le rá:—
(a) i gcás inar gá do réir an orduithe thráthchoda san na fiacha agus na costaisí d'íoc in aon íocaíocht amháin, an t-ordú san d'atharú i slí go bhforálfar go ndéanfar (in ionad na híocaíochta san d'íoc in aon tsuim amháin) na fiacha agus na costaisí d'íoc sna tráthchoda san agus na tráthanna san is dóich leis an mBreitheamh san do bheith réasúnta ag féachaint dó do chúrsaí uile an cháis;
(b) i gcás inar gá do réir an orduithe thráthchoda san na fiacha agus na costaisí d'íoc i dtráthchoda, an t-ordú san d'atharú, sa tslí sin is ceart dar leis an mBreitheamh san, maidir le huimhir na dtráthchoda no le méid na dtráthchoda no leis na tráthanna bheidh na tráthchoda le n'íoc no maidir leis na nithe sin uile no le haon dá ní aca.
(2) Pé uair a dhéanfaidh Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche ordú fén alt so, pé aca ar iarratas ón gcreidmheasóir no ar iarratas ón bhféicheamh é, ag atharú orduithe thráthchoda, féadfaidh an Breitheamh san, más ceart san dar leis, ceachtar ní no an dá ní aca so leanas do dhéanamh, sé sin le rá:—
(a) a ordú costaisí an chreidmheasóra, alos an orduithe atharúcháin sin d'iarraidh, do bheith ina gcuid de chostaisí na n-imeacht sa Chúirt Dúithche do réir bhrí ailt 17 den Phríomh-Acht;
(b) a ordú feidhm agus éifeacht do bheith ag an ordú atharúcháin sin amhail o dháta áirithe roimh dháta a dhéanta.
(3) Ach amháin sa mhéid go bhforáltar a mhalairt leis na fo-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt so, is o dháta a dhéanta a bheidh éifeacht ag ordú fén alt so.
Alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht d'ath-achtú go n-atharuithe air.
6.—Athghairmtear leis seo alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht agus ina ionad san achtuítear leis seo mar leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) i gcás féicheamh do dhligheadh de bhuadh orduithe thráthchoda fiacha agus costaisí d'íoc in aon íocaíocht amháin no i dtráthchoda, agus an féicheamh san do thabhairt faillighe san íocaíocht san do dhéanamh, no do thabhairt faillighe i gceann amháin no níos mó de sna tráthchoda san a fhásfaidh chun bheith dlite faid a bheidh an t-ordú san i bhfeidhm d'íoc, an tráth no na tráthanna bheidh ceaptha chuige sin leis an ordú san, is ceaduithe don chreidmheasóir a iarraidh ar Bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche, tráth ar bith faid a bheidh an t-ordu san i bhfeidhm no fé cheann dhá mhí dhéag tar éis dó scur de bheith i bhfeidhm, a ordú an féicheamh san do ghabháil agus do chur i bpríosún;
(b) ar iarratas fén mír dheiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so d'éisteacht, féadfaidh an Breitheamh, más ceart san dar leis agus fé réir na céad mhíre ina dhiaidh seo den alt so, a ordú an féicheamh do ghabháil agus é chur i bpríosún ar feadh téarma ar bith nach sia ná trí mhí agus, leis sin, déanfar an féicheamh do ghabháil agus do chur i bpríosún dá réir sin;
(c) ní ordóidh an Breitheamh, fén mír dheiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so, an féicheamh do ghabháil agus do chur i bpríosún má dheineann an féicheamh (i gcás é theacht i láthair) a chur ina luighe ar an mBreitheamh san nách diúltú toilteanach ná faillighe inmhilleáin uaidh féin fé ndeár gan é do dhéanamh íoca;
(d) ar iarratas fé mhír (a) den alt so d'éisteacht agus más ceart dar leis an mBreitheamh san do dhéanamh, féadfaidh, in ionad a ordú an féicheamh do ghabháil agus do chur i bpríosún, deighleáil leis an iarratas san fé is dá mba iarratas é fén alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den Acht so chun an orduithe thráthchoda san d'atharú agus, leis sin, beidh an t-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo infheidhmithe fé is dá mba iarratas fén gcéanna an t-iarratas san;
(e) pé uair a déanfar féicheamh do ghabháil agus do chur i bpríosún de bhuadh orduithe ar n-a dhéanamh fén alt so, beidh an féicheamh san i dteideal é scaoileadh saor an túisce íocfa sé féin no a híocfar thar a cheann, leis an gCléireach Cúirte Dúithche no le Gobharnóir an Phríosúin le haghaidh an Chléirigh Chúirte Dúithche, an méid airgid (a luadhfar san ordú san) is suim na dtráthchoda uile de sna fiacha agus de sna costaisí a bheidh fásta roimh dháta an orduithe sin agus gan íoc ar an dáta san, maraon leis an méid breise sin (más aon mhéid é) in aghaidh costaisí an orduithe sin is dóich leis an mBreitheamh a dhéanfaidh an t-ordú san do bheith réasúnta;
(f) an t-airgead go léir íocfaidh féicheamh no a híocfar thar a cheann, fén alt so, leis an gCléireach Cúirte Dúithche (go díreach no tré Ghobharnóir an Phríosúin) déanfaidh an Cléireach Cúirte Dúithche é íoc leis an gcreidmheasóir ar eisean dá iarraidh air.
CUID II.
Ilghneitheach agus Generalta.
Alt 1 den Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, do leasú.
7.—Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas maidir le fo-alt (1) d'alt 1 den Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, sé sin le rá:—
(a) an méid sin den fho-alt san (1) le n-a bhforáltar ná raghaidh an tsuim sheachtainiúil a luaidhtear ann thar dhá phunt, scuirfe sé d'éifeacht do bheith aige ar an Acht so do rith, agus ina ionad san achtuítear leis seo ná raghaidh an tsuim sheachtainiúil sin thar ceithre púint;
(b) fé réir forálacha aon rialacha cúirte bhainfidh leis an gcás, is ceaduithe a iarraidh ar Bhreitheamh ar bith den Chúirt Dúithche, fén bhfo-alt san (1), ordú chun suim sheachtainiúil d'íoc d'atharú.
Orduithe áirithe íocaíochtaí tréimhsiúla d'fhoirfheidhmiú.
8.—(1) I gcás gan suim no suimeanna, is iníoctha de bhuadh orduithe ar n-a dhéanamh fé alt 1 den Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, no fé alt 3 d'Acht na Leanbhaí Tabhartha (Orduithe Athairíochta), 1930 (Uimh. 17 de 1930), d'íoc go cuibhe, féadfaidh Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche, ar iarratas an duine gur leis a bheidh an tsuim no na suimeanna san iníoctha fén ordú san (dá ngairmtear an t-iarratasóir san alt so), a chur fé ndeár, le barántas, an duine gur aige bheidh an tsuim no na suimeanna san iníoctha fén ordú san (dá ngairmtear an faillitheoir san alt so) do thabhairt ina láthair agus, leis sin, féadfaidh an Breitheamh san, tar éis dó an t-iarratasóir agus an faillitheoir agus fós an fhianaise sin (más ann di) do bhéarfaid fé seach ar áird d'éisteacht agus más ceart dar leis san do dhéanamh, a ordú an tsuim no na suimeanna san, maraon le costaisí an iarratais sin, do chruinniú tré earraí an fhaillitheora do ghabháil agus do dhíol no, mara gcuiridh an faillitheoir ina luighe ar an mBreitheamh san nach diúltú toilteanach ná faillighe inmhilleáin uaidh féin fé ndeár gan é do dhéanamh íoca, príosúntacht ar feadh téarma ar bith nach sia ná trí mhí do ghearradh ar an bhfaillitheoir.
(2) I gcás Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche dá ordú, fén bhfo-alt san roimhe seo den alt so, méid áirithe airgid do chruinniú tré earraí an fhaillitheora do ghabháil agus do dhíol, beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha so leanas, sé sin le rá:—
(a) féadfaidh an Breitheamh san a cheangal ar an bhfaillitheoir dul fé bhanna, go n-urraí le n-a mbeidh an Breitheamh san sásta, go dtiocfaidh i láthair an Bhreithimh sin lá áirithe mara nglantar an méid sin ina iomlán roimhe sin tríd an gcruinniú san no ar shlí eile;
(b) mara ndeinidh an faillitheoir, ar a cheangal air amhlaidh dul fén mbanna san, an ceanglas san do chólíonadh, féadfaidh an Breitheamh san, más ceart san dar leis, a ordú an faillitheoir do chur fé choinneáil agus é thabhairt i láthair an Bhreithimh sin an lá áirithe sin mara scaoiltear saor as coinneáil roimhe sin é de bhun an ailt seo;
(c) i gcás an faillitheoir do bheith fé choinneáil amhlaidh agus—
(i) é do dhul, le linn na coinneála san, fé bhanna i láthair feadhmhannaigh shíochána, go n-urraí le n-a mbeidh an feadhmannach síochána san sásta, go dtiocfaidh i láthair an Bhreithimh sin an lá áirithe sin mara nglantar an méid sin roimhe sin tríd an gcruinniú san no ar shlí eile, no
(ii) an méid sin do ghlanadh ina iomlán, le linn na coinneála san, tríd an gcruinniú san no ar shlí eile, scaoilfear saor an faillitheoir as coinneáil láithreach;
(d) i gcás gan an méid sin do bheith glanta ina iomlán an lá áirithe sin, tríd an gcruinniú san no ar shlí eile, féadfaidh an Breitheamh san, mara gcuiridh an faillitheoir ina luighe air nach diúltú toilteanach ná faillighe inmhilleáin uaidh féin fé ndeár gan é do ghlanadh an mhéide sin, príosúntacht ar feadh téarma ar bith nach sia ná trí mhí do ghearradh ar an bhfaillitheoir.
(3) Pé uair a gearrfar téarma príosúntachta ar an bhfaillitheoir fén alt so, beidh sé i dteideal é scaoileadh saor an túisce íocfa sé féin no a híocfar thar a cheann, leis an gCléireach Cúirte Dúithche no le Gobharnóir an Phríosúin le haghaidh an Chléirigh Chúirte Dúithche, an méid airgid a bheidh luaidhte chuige sin in ordú na príosúntachta san, agus gurb é an tsuim no iomlán na suimeanna gur toisc gan í no iad d'íoc do rinne an t-iarratasóir an t-iarratas fén alt so, maraon le costaisí an iarratais sin, é.
(4) An t-airgead go léir íocfaidh an faillitheoir no a híocfar thar a cheann, fén bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so, leis an gCléireach Cúirte Dúithche (go díreach no tré Ghobharnóir an Phríosúin) déanfaidh an Cléireach Cúirte Dúithche é íoc leis an iarratasóir ar eisean dá iarraidh air.
(5) Ní thiocfaidh den fhaillitheoir do chur i bpríosún fén alt so é d'fhuascailt o n-a fhreagarthacht in íoc aon airgid gur toisc gan é íoc do gearradh an phríosúntacht san air ná an fhreagarthacht san do mhúchadh, ná ní dhéanfaidh an phríosúntacht san cealú ar aon cheart no leigheas eile bheidh ag an iarratasóir chun íoc an airgid sin d'fhoirfheidhmiú no chun é bhaint amach.
(6) Gach gabháil agus díol a déanfar de bhun ordacháin ar n-a thabhairt ag Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúithche fén alt so, isé an foshirriam a dhéanfaidh é.
(7) Ní bheidh aon iarratas ná imeachta eile (fén alt so no eile) chun suim no suimeanna, is iníoctha de bhuadh orduithe ar n-a dhéanamh fé alt 1 den Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, no fé alt 3 d'Acht na Leanbhaí Tabhartha (Orduithe Athairíochta), 1930 (Uimh. 17 de 1930), do bhaint amach ionsuidhte alos aon tsuime den tsórt san do tháinig chun bheith dlite agus iníoctha lá is sia siar ná sé mhí roimh dháta an iarratais no na n-imeacht eile sin do bhunú:
Ach, i gcás imeachta seachas imeachta fén alt so, féadfaidh an Chúirt, más ceart san dar léi mar gheall ar chúrsaí speisialta, a cheadú na himeachta san do shuidheamh alos gach suime no aon tsuime no suimeanna den tsórt san do tháinig chun bheith dlite agus iníoctha mar adubhradh.
Daoine i bpríosún toisc gan airgead d'íoc do scaoileadh saor.
9.—(1) I gcás duine do bheith i bpríosún de bhun orduithe chúirte ar n-a dhéanamh toisc gan an duine sin d'íoc suime airgid, féadfaidh an tAire Dlighidh agus Cirt, tráth ar bith agus mar gheall ar aon réasún a chífear dó do bheith dóthanach, a ordú an duine sin do scaoileadh saor láithreach, no tar éis cuid áirithe den tsuim airgid sin d'íoc, fé mar is ceart dar leis an Aire sin.
(2) Pé uair a ordóidh an tAire Dlighidh agus Cirt, fén bhfo-alt deiridh sin roimhe seo den alt so, duine do scaoileadh saor as príosún, scaoilfear saor an duine sin do réir an ordacháin sin.
(3) Ní ordóidh an tAire Dlighidh agus Cirt fén alt so duine do scaoileadh saor as príosún mara dtéighidh ná go dtí go raghaidh an tAire sin i gcomhairle leis an mBreitheamh, d'orduigh an duine sin do chur i bpríosún, maidir le hé bheith ceart an duine sin do scaoileadh saor amhlaidh no maran deimhin ná go dtí gur deimhin leis an Aire sin nach féidir, toisc cúrsaí an cháis, dul i gcomhairle leis an mBreitheamh san.
Gearr-theideal agus luadh.
10.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Fheidhmiú Orduithe Cúirte, 1940, do ghairm den Acht so.
(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna um Fheidhmiú Orduithe Cúirte, 1926 agus 1940, do ghairm den Acht um Fheidhmiú Orduithe Cúirte, 1926 (Uimh. 18 de 1926), agus den Acht so le chéile.
Number 23 of 1940.
ENFORCEMENT OF COURT ORDERS ACT, 1940.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Amendment of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1926
Section | |
Time within which application for examination order may be made. | |
Re-enactment of section 18 of the Principal Act with modifications. |
Miscellaneous And General
Amendment of section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886. | |
Acts Referred to | |
No. 18 of 1926 | |
No. 17 of 1930 | |
Number 23 of 1940.
ENFORCEMENT OF COURT ORDERS ACT, 1940.
PART I.
Amendment of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1926.
The Principal Act.
1.—In this Part of this Act the expression “the Principal Act” means the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1926 (No. 18 of 1926).
Construction of this Part of this Act.
2.—(1) This Part of this Act shall be read as one with Part II of the Principal Act, and accordingly every word and expression to which a particular meaning is given in or by the said Part II for the purposes of the said Part II shall have in this Part of this Act the meaning so given to it.
(2) In this Part of this Act, the expression “instalment order” means an order made under section 17 of the Principal Act, whether such order requires the debt and costs to be paid in one payment or by instalments, and, where such order has been varied under this Part of this Act, includes such order as so varied.
Time within which application for examination order may be made.
3.—An application for an examination order may be made at any time not more than six years after the date of the judgment in relation to which such order is sought.
Duration of instalment orders.
4.—(1) An instalment order made after the passing of this Act shall continue in force until the expiration of six years from the date thereof and no longer.
(2) No instalment which accrues due under an instalment order after such order ceases to be in force shall be payable or recoverable.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring that an instalment order shall provide for payment of the whole of the debt and costs within the period during which such order continues in force.
Variation of instalment orders.
5.—(1) A Justice of the District Court may, if he so thinks proper on the application of the creditor or of the debtor, do in respect of any instalment order (whether made before or after the passing of this Act) whichever of the following things is applicable, that is to say:—
(a) where such instalment order requires the debt and costs to be paid in one payment, vary such order so as to provide (in lieu of such payment in one sum) for payment of the debt and costs by such instalments and at such times as such Justice shall in all the circumstances think reasonable;
(b) where such instalment order requires the debt and costs to be paid by instalments, vary such order in such manner as such Justice may think proper in respect of the number of instalments, the amount of the instalments, or the times at which the instalments are to be paid or all or any two of those matters.
(2) Whenever a Justice of the District Court makes under this section, whether on the application of the creditor or the application of the debtor, an order varying an instalment order, such Justice may, if he so thinks proper, do either or both of the following things, that is to say:—
(a) direct that the costs of the creditor in respect of the application for such variation order shall be part of the costs of the proceedings in the District Court within the meaning of section 17 of the Principal Act;
(b) direct that such variation order shall apply and have effect as from a specified date prior to the date thereof.
(3) Save as provided by the preceding sub-sections of this section, an order under this section shall have effect from the date thereof.
Re-enactment of section 18 of the Principal Act with modifications.
6.—Section 18 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted as follows, that is to say:—
(a) where a debtor is liable, by virtue of an instalment order, to pay a debt and costs either in one payment or by instalments and such debtor fails to make such payment or fails to pay any one or more of such instalments accruing due while such order is in force at the time or times appointed in that behalf by such order, the creditor may, at any time while such order is in force or within twelve months after it has ceased to be in force, apply to a Justice of the District Court for the arrest and imprisonment of such debtor;
(b) on the hearing of an application under the next preceding paragraph of this section, the Justice may if he so thinks proper but subject to the next following paragraph of this section, order the arrest and imprisonment of the debtor for any period not exceeding three months, and thereupon the debtor shall be arrested and imprisoned accordingly;
(c) the Justice shall not order the arrest and imprisonment of the debtor under the next preceding paragraph of this section if the debtor (if he appears) shows, to the satisfaction of such Justice, that his failure to pay was due neither to his wilful refusal nor to his culpable neglect;
(d) on the hearing of an application under paragraph (a) of this section, the Justice, if he so thinks proper, may, in lieu of ordering the arrest and imprisonment of the debtor, treat such application as an application under the next preceding section of this Act for the variation of the said instalment order and thereupon the said next preceding section shall apply as if such application were an application thereunder;
(e) whenever a debtor is arrested and imprisoned by virtue of an order made under this section, he shall be entitled to be released immediately upon payment by him or on his behalf to the District Court Clerk, or to the Governor of the Prison for the District Court Clerk, of the sum of money (to be specified in such order) consisting of the, amount of all instalments of the debt and costs which have accrued before and are unpaid at the date of such order, and such further sum (if any) for the costs of such order as the Justice making such order shall think reasonable;
(f) all moneys paid under this section to the District Court Clerk (whether directly or through the Governor of the Prison) by or on behalf of a debtor shall be paid by the District Court Clerk to the creditor on demand.
PART II.
Miscellaneous and General.
Amendment of section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886.
7.—The following provisions shall have effect in relation to sub-section (1) of section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, that is to say:—
(a) so much of the said sub-section (1) as provides that the weekly sum mentioned therein shall not exceed two pounds shall, on the passing of this Act, cease to have effect, and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted that the said weekly sum shall not exceed four pounds;
(b) an application under the said sub-section (1) for variation of an order for payment of a weekly sum may, subject to the provisions of any relevant rules of court, be made to any Justice of the District Court.
Enforcement of certain orders for periodical payments.
8.—(1) Where a sum or sums payable by virtue of an order made under section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, or under section 3 of the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930 (No. 17 of 1930), is or are not duly paid, a Justice of the District Court may, on the application of the person to whom such sum or sums is or are payable under such order (in this section referred to as the applicant), by warrant cause the person by whom such sum or sums is or are payable under such order (in this section referred to as the defaulter) to be brought before him and thereupon such Justice, after hearing the applicant and the defaulter and such evidence (if any) as they may respectively adduce, may, if he so thinks proper, either direct such sum or sums together with the costs of such application to be levied by distress and sale of the goods of the defaulter or, unless the defaulter shows, to the satisfaction of such Justice, that the failure to pay was due neither to his wilful refusal nor to his culpable neglect, sentence the defaulter to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.
(2) Where a Justice of the District Court directs, under the foregoing sub-section of this section, that an amount be levied by distress and sale of the goods of the defaulter, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
(a) such Justice may require the defaulter to enter into a recognisance with sureties to the satisfaction of such Justice to appear before such Justice on a specified day if such amount is not previously discharged in full either as a result of such levy or otherwise;
(b) if the defaulter, on being so required to enter into such recognisance, does not comply with such requirement, such Justice may, if he so thinks proper, direct the defaulter to be detained in custody and brought before such Justice on the said specified day unless he is previously released from custody in pursuance of this section;
(c) if while the defaulter is so in custody either—
(i) he enters into a recognisance before a peace commissioner with sureties to the satisfaction of such peace commissioner to appear before such Justice on the said specified day if the said amount is not previously discharged as a result of such levy or otherwise, or
(ii) the said amount is discharged in full either as a result of such levy or otherwise,
the defaulter shall be released from custody forthwith;
(d) if upon the said specified day the said amount has not been discharged in full either as a result of such levy or otherwise, such Justice may, unless the defaulter shows to the satisfaction of such Justice that the failure to discharge the said amount was due neither to his wilful refusal nor to his culpable neglect, sentence the defaulter to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.
(3) Whenever the defaulter is sentenced under this section to suffer a term of imprisonment he shall be entitled to be released immediately upon payment by him or on his behalf to the District Court Clerk or to the Governor of the Prison for the District Court Clerk of the sum of money specified in that behalf in the order for such imprisonment and consisting of the sum or the total of the sums on account of the non-payment of which the application under this section was made by the applicant and the costs of such application.
(4) All moneys paid under the next preceding sub-section of this section to the District Court Clerk (whether directly or through the Governor of the Prison) by or on behalf of the defaulter shall be paid by the District Court Clerk to the applicant on demand.
(5) The imprisonment of the defaulter under this section shall not operate as a satisfaction or extinguishment of the defaulter's liability for payment of any money on account of the non-payment of which he was sentenced to such imprisonment nor shall such imprisonment deprive the applicant of any other right or remedy for enforcing or recovering payment of such money.
(6) Every distress and sale made in pursuance of a direction given under this section by a Justice of the District Court shall be carried out by the under-sheriff.
(7) No application or other proceedings (whether under this section or otherwise) for the recovery of a sum or sums payable by virtue of an order made under section 1 of the Married Women (Maintenance in case of Desertion) Act, 1886, or under section 3 of the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930 (No. 17 of 1930), shall be maintainable in respect of any such sum which became due and payable on a day more than six months before the institution of such application or other proceedings:
Provided always that, in the case of proceedings otherwise than under this section, the Court may, if on account of special circumstances the Court so thinks proper, allow such proceedings to be maintained in respect of all or any one or more of such sums which became due and payable as aforesaid.
Release of persons imprisoned for non-payment of money.
9.—(1) Where a person is in prison in pursuance of an order of a court made on account of the failure of such person to pay a sum of money, the Minister for Justice may, at any time and for any reason which appears to him sufficient, direct that such person shall be released either (as the said Minister shall think proper) forthwith or after payment of a specified part of the said sum of money.
(2) Whenever the Minister for Justice directs, under the next preceding sub-section of this section, that a person shall be released from prison, such person shall be released in accordance with such direction.
(3) The Minister for Justice shall not direct under this section the release from prison of a person until or unless either the said Minister has consulted the Judge or Justice by whom the order for the imprisonment of such person was made, as to the propriety of such release or the said Minister is satisfied that such consultation is impracticable in the circumstances.
Short title and citation.
10.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940.
(2) The Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1926 (No. 18 of 1926), and this Act may be cited together as the Enforcement of Court Orders Acts, 1926 and 1940.