Rana v University of South Australia [2004] FCA 559

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Rana v University of South Australia [2004] FCA 559

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – appeal from decision of Federal Magistrate summarily dismissing application claiming unlawful discrimination – principles relating to summary dismissal – where application said to lack merit – application need only disclose a reasonable cause of action – court should not consider whether the application will ultimately succeed – approach where litigant unrepresented. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – philosophy underlying proceedings in Federal Magistrates Court – absence of pleadings – function of pleadings generally.

Federal Magistrates Court Rules Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Federal Magistrates Act 1999 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Hunt v Allied Bakeries Ltd (1956) 3 All ER 513 applied Hall v Nominal Defendant (1966) 117 CLR 423 cited Tampion v Anderson (1974) 48 ALJR 11 applied In the matter of an appeal by Gaye Alexandra Mary Luck [2003] HCA 70 applied Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Pty Ltd (2000) 104 FCR 564 applied Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1991) 33 FCR 397 applied Niemann v Electronic Industries Ltd [1978] VR 431 applied Mulley v Manifold (1959) 103 CLR 341 cited Gould and Birbeck and Bacon v Mount Oxide Mines Ltd (In Liquidation) (1916) 22 CLR 490 cited Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioner (1949) 78 CLR 62 cited General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 applied RANJIT RANA v UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA S 826 OF 2003 LANDER J 7 MAY 2004 ADELAIDE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY S 826 OF 2003

ON APPEAL FROM THE FEDERAL MAGISTRATES COURT OF AUSTRALIA