Courts Act, 1971

Extension of jurisdiction of District Court in certain cases.

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

(a) by the substitution of the following clauses for clauses (i) to (iv) 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 £250:

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 £315 per annum;

(iii) in proceedings at the suit of the State or any State authority (within the meaning of the Act of 1961) or any officer thereof to recover any sum not exceeding £250 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 “£250” for “£50” in clause (v) (inserted by section 52 of the Act of 1936).