Courts Act, 1981

Extension of jurisdiction of District Court.

6.—Section 77 of the Act of 1924 is hereby amended—

(a) by the substitution of the following clauses for clauses (i) to (iii) (inserted by the Act of 1971) of paragraph A:

“(i) in contract, breach of contract, tort (except slander, libel, criminal conversation, seduction, slander of title, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment) and claims for damages unconnected with contract, where the claim does not exceed £2,500:

Provided that the decision of a justice of the District Court in a case in which a question of title to land is in issue shall not operate as an estoppel in or bar to a suit in any court in relation to such land;

(ii) in ejectment for non-payment of rent or overholding in any class of tenancy where the rent does not exceed such sum as amounts or might amount to £2,500 per annum;

(iii) in proceedings at the suit of the State or any State authority (within the meaning of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961 ) or any officer thereof to recover any sum not exceeding £2,500 due to or recoverable by or on behalf of the State whether by way of penalty, debt or otherwise, and notwithstanding any enactment now in force requiring such sum to be sued for in the High Court or other superior court;”, and

(b) by the substitution of “£2,500” for “£250” in clause (v) (inserted by /the Act of 1936).