(1)An Agricultural Land Tribunal, where it appears to them that any person concerned in a reference [F1or application] to them (including any Minister of the Crown or Government department so concerned) has acted frivolously, vexatiously or oppressively in applying for or in connection with the reference [F1or application]may order that person to pay to any other person either a specified sum in respect of the costs incurred by him at or with a view to the hearing or the taxed amount of those costs; and an order may be made under this subsection whether or not the reference [F1or application] proceeds to a hearing.
(2)Any costs required by an order under this section to be taxed may be taxed in the county court according to such of the scales prescribed by county court rules for proceedings in the county court as may be directed by the order or, if the order gives no direction, by the county court.
(3)Any sum payable by virtue of an order of an Agricultural Land Tribunal under this section shall, if the county court so orders, be recoverable by execution issued from the county court or otherwise as if payable under an order of that court; and, subject to county court rules, an application for an order of the county court under this subsection may be madeex parte.
(4)The powers of the county court under this section may be exercised by the registrar.
Textual Amendments
F1Words inserted by Agriculture Act 1958 (c. 71, SIF 2:3), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 26