Section 6

A creditor’s petition shall be verified by affidavit of the creditor or of some person on his behalf having knowledge of the facts, and shall be served as prescribed.

At the hearing the court shall require proof of —

If the court is not satisfied with the proof of the petitioning creditor’s debt or of the act of bankruptcy or of the service of the petition, or is satisfied by the debtor that he is able to pay his debts, or that for other sufficient cause no order ought to be made, the court may dismiss the petition.

When the act of bankruptcy relied on is non-compliance with a bankruptcy notice to pay, secure or compound for a judgment debt, the court may if it thinks fit stay or dismiss the petition on the ground that an appeal is pending from the judgment.

Where the debtor appears on the petition and denies that he is indebted to the petitioner, or that he is indebted to such an amount as would justify the petitioner in presenting a petition against him, the court, on such security, if any, being given as the court may require for payment to the petitioner of any debt which may be established against the debtor in due course of law and of the costs of establishing the debt, may, instead of dismissing the petition, stay all proceedings on the petition for such time as may be required for trial of the question relating to the debt.

Where proceedings are stayed the court may, if by reason of the delay caused by the stay of proceedings or for any other cause it thinks just, make a receiving order on the petition of some other creditor, and shall thereupon dismiss, on such terms as it thinks just, the petition in which proceedings have been stayed as aforesaid.

A creditor’s petition shall not after presentation be withdrawn without the leave of the court.