7. Insertion of new section 80A

The following new section is hereby inserted immediately after section 80 of the principal enactment and shall have effect as section 80A of that enactment :-

80A. (1) (a) On or after the date fixed for the trial of the action, no application for pre-trial steps shall be allowed, unless the court is satisfied for reasons to be recorded, that a grave and irremediable injustice would be caused if such steps are not permitted.

In such event, the court may impose such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit against the party who makes such application.

Where the issues upon which the trial of the action is to proceed have been settled by the Judge conducting the Pre-Trial hearing, no amendment thereto shall be made at the trial, save in special circumstances and unless the court is satisfied that a refusal to permit such amendment would result in manifest injustice to the party applying for the amendment.

Where issues both of law and facts arise in the same action, and the court is of the opinion that the case may be disposed of on the issues of law only, it shall try those issues first, and for that purpose may, if it thinks fit, postpone the settlement of the issues of fact until after the issues of law have been determined.”.