16Application for relief under section 15(1)U.K.
(1)This section applies in relation to an application to the Upper Tribunal for relief under section 15(1).
(2)The application may be made only if permission (or, in a case arising under the law of Northern Ireland, leave) to make it has been obtained from the tribunal.
(3)The tribunal may not grant permission (or leave) to make the application unless it considers that the applicant has a sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.
(4)Subsection (5) applies where the tribunal considers—
(a)that there has been undue delay in making the application, and
(b)that granting the relief sought on the application would be likely to cause substantial hardship to, or substantially prejudice the rights of, any person or would be detrimental to good administration.
(5)The tribunal may—
(a)refuse to grant permission (or leave) for the making of the application;
(b)refuse to grant any relief sought on the application.
(6)The tribunal may award to the applicant damages, restitution or the recovery of a sum due if—
(a)the application includes a claim for such an award arising from any matter to which the application relates, and
(b)the tribunal is satisfied that such an award would have been made by the High Court if the claim had been made in an action begun in the High Court by the applicant at the time of making the application.
(7)An award under subsection (6) may be enforced as if it were an award of the High Court.
(8)Where—
(a)the tribunal refuses to grant permission (or leave) to apply for relief under section 15(1),
(b)the applicant appeals against that refusal, and
(c)the Court of Appeal grants the permission (or leave),
the Court of Appeal may go on to decide the application for relief under section 15(1).
(9)Subsections (4) and (5) do not prevent Tribunal Procedure Rules from limiting the time within which applications may be made.