This book examines the rules of civil procedure and the ever-increasing case law in the context of carefully designed, underlying principles. This is a unique approach and its purpose is to inculcate a fuller and deeper understanding of procedure. Principles of Civil Procedure will enable the reader to gain a fundamental understanding of the elements of civil procedure in a very meaningful way at every level. It will assist lawyers in mastering difficult issues of procedure and present them with persuasive points which they can use in their arguments in almost every area. Civil procedure is not merely a body of rules. Rules are the mere facets of the subject. A true understanding of civil procedure comes only with an appreciation of the purposes of the rules and their link to the objectives of litigation. 

This book is entitled “Principles of Civil Procedure” because of its focus on the building blocks of this subject. These principles have been formulated “top-down” through four interlinking levels. The overarching principle, which is the core principle for Part I, is also the source of the nine core principles of Parts II to X. All the core principles of Parts I to X flow into the chapter principles (within each of the ten parts) which in turn become the tributaries that are the subsidiary principles for each chapter. Apart from examining the principles and analysing the corresponding sources of law and the developing jurisprudence, the book aims to provide a clear account of civil practice in the courts. Lawyers will find this book extremely useful in preparing and presenting their cases in interlocutory proceedings and at trial and on appeal.