Regulation 17A

Subject to the other provisions of these Rules, for the purposes of service, an originating application is valid in the first instance for 6 months beginning with the date of its issue.

Subject to paragraph (3), where an originating application has not been served on a defendant, the Court may by order extend the validity of the originating application from time to time for such period, not exceeding 6 months at any one time, beginning with the day next following that on which it would otherwise expire, as may be specified in the order, if any application for extension is made to the Court before that day.

Where the Court is satisfied on an application under paragraph (2) that, despite the making of reasonable efforts, it may not be possible to serve an originating application within 6 months, the Court may, if it thinks fit, extend the validity of the originating application for such period, not exceeding 12 months at any one time, as the Court may specify.

Before an originating application, the validity of which has been extended under this rule, is served, it must be marked with an official stamp in Form 1A showing the period from which the validity of the originating application has been so extended.

A note of the renewal must be entered in the cause book.