(1)A defendant may assert, by way of counterclaim, any right or claim which he may have against the plaintiff.

(2)Where a defendant counterclaims against a plaintiff, he may join any other person, whether a party to the action or not, who is a necessary or proper party to the counterclaim.

(1)A defendant shall plead his defence and counterclaim in one document to be called a Statement of Defence and Counterclaim (Form 27C-1).

(2)Where there is a party added by counterclaim, the style of proceeding in the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim (Form 27C-2) and in subsequent documents shall be changed to show the name of the party added by counterclaim.

(1)Where a counterclaim is against the plaintiff only, the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim shall be filed and served within the time prescribed for filing and serving the Statement of Defence in the main action.

(2)Where a counterclaim is against the plaintiff and a party added by counterclaim, the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim shall be issued within the time prescribed for filing and serving of the Statement of Defence in the main action, and shall be served

(3)Service of a Statement of Defence and Counterclaim on

(1)The plaintiff shall file and serve his Defence to Counterclaim (Form 27D) within 10 days after service on him of the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim and, if he is filing and serving a Reply in the main action, his Defence to Counterclaim shall be joined therewith.

(2)A party added by counterclaim shall file and serve his Defence to Counterclaim within 20 days after service of the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim.

(1)Where it appears that a counterclaim may unduly complicate or delay the trial of the main action, or cause undue prejudice to a party, the court may order separate trials or strike out the counterclaim without prejudice to the right of the defendant to assert any such claim in a separate action.

(2)Where a defendant does not dispute the claim of the plaintiff in the main action, but sets up a counterclaim, the court may stay the main action until the counterclaim is disposed of, or grant judgment with or without a stay of execution.

(3)Where the plaintiff does not dispute the counterclaim of a defendant, the court may stay the counterclaim until the claim is disposed of, or grant judgment with or without a stay of execution.

(4)Where both the plaintiff in the main action and the defendant on his counterclaim succeed, either in whole or in part, and there is a balance in favour of one of them, the court may give judgment for the balance.