7. Insertion of new section 24A in the principal enactment

The following new section is hereby inserted immediately after section 24 of the principal enactment and shall have effect as section 24A of that enactment:-

24A. (1) Upon an application made to the court before the day first fixed for trail of the action, in the presence of, or after reasonable notice to all the parties to the action, the court shall have full power of amending in its discretion, all pleadings in the action, by way of addition, or alteration, or of omission.

On or after the date the case is first fixed for trail, no application for the amendment of any pleadings shall be allowed unless the court is satisfied for reasons to be recorded that grave and irremediable injustice will be caused or that a thorough investigation of title will be impeded, if such amendment is not permitted subject to costs or otherwise, and that the party so applying has not been guilty of laches.

Any application for amendment of pleadings which may be allowed by the court under subsection (1) or (2) shall be upon such terms as to costs and postponement or otherwise as the court may think fit.

The additions or alterations or omissions shall be clearly made on the face of the pleading affected by the order; or if this cannot conveniently be done, a fair copy of the pleading as altered shall be appended in the record of the action to the pleading amended.