72.—(1) A process issued in debt proceeding shall require the defendant to appear before a court of summary jurisdiction F1....
(2) A process issued in ejectment proceedings shall require the defendant to appear before a court of summary jurisdiction F1....
(3) A claim for the recovery of arrears of rent or sums due under Article 69 not exceeding £100 due in respect of lands or premises may be joined together with a claim in ejectment proceedings and commenced by the issue of the same process.
F1Words in art. 72(1)(2) repealed (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 86(13), Sch. 9 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k)(m) (with art. 3)
73.—(1) Subject to this Article, in debt or ejectment proceedings, the court shall hear the parties, and evidence in support of the claim or defence or counterclaim, if any.
(2) Where the plaintiff appears but the defendant does not appear, the court may, after proof of service of the process upon the defendant, proceed in his absence or adjourn the proceedings.
(3) Where neither the plaintiff nor defendant appears, or where the plaintiff does not appear and the defendant though appearing does not apply for a dismissal of the claim, the court may strike out the proceedings.
(4) Where the plaintiff informs the court that he does not wish to apply for an order and the defendant does not appear, or if appearing, does not object, the court may allow the proceedings to be withdrawn.
(5) The court may, without hearing the parties or any evidence, upon such conditions as may be prescribed, make an order against a defendant upon his consent to the making of such order.
(6) The court may dismiss a claim in debt or ejectment proceedings either upon the merits or without prejudice to a further claim in respect of the same matter.