Procedures
Courts (High Court) (Civil Procedure) Rules 2017 with active case management
The 2017 Rules replaced the old English-derived rules of the Supreme Court, introducing case management and standard directions. Limitation runs under the Limitation Act (Cap 6:02) — six years for contract and tort. Appeals lie to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Magistrates' courts hear claims within limits; the High Court has unlimited jurisdiction with Commercial and Revenue divisions.
- Deadline — Contract and tort claims: 6 years
- Deadline — Appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal: notice within 30 days
Governing law
- Courts (High Court) (Civil Procedure) Rules 2017
- Limitation ActCap 6:02
- Supreme Court of Appeal ActCap 3:01
In practice
The 2017 Rules were a decisive break from the inherited English practice, and the transition is still visible in Malawian practice because older judgments cite rules that no longer exist.