Civil Procedure Rules Background
The Civil Procedure Rules are a procedural code with the overriding objective
of enabling the court to deal with cases justly.
Dealing with a case justly includes, so far as is practicable -
- ensuring that the parties are on an equal footing;
saving expense;
- dealing with the case in ways which are proportionate -
- to the amount of money involved;
- to the importance of the case;
- to the complexity of the issues; and
- to the financial position of each party;
- ensuring that it is dealt with expeditiously and fairly; and
- allotting to it an appropriate share of the court's resources, while
taking into account the need to allot resources to other cases.
Background to the rules
The Civil Procedure Rules were introduced in 1999, and replace many of
the provisions of the old Rules of the Supreme Court (RSC) and county court
rules (CCR). They govern the practice and procedure to be followed in the
civil division of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and county courts.
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