(1)On receiving a copy of the Accountant in Bankruptcy’s determination sent under subsection (3)(b)(i) of section 26 of this Act the interim trustee may apply to him for a certificate of discharge.
(2)The interim trustee shall send notice of an application under subsection (1) above to the debtor and to the permanent trustee and shall inform the debtor—
(a)that he, the permanent trustee or any creditor may make written representations relating to the application to the Accountant in Bankruptcy within a period of 14 days after such notification;
(b)that the audited accounts of his intromissions (if any) with the debtor’s estate are available for inspection at the office of the interim trustee and that a copy of those accounts has been sent to the permanent trustee for insertion in the sederunt book; and
(c)of the effect mentioned in subsection (5) below.
(3)On the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above the Accountant in Bankruptcy, after considering any representations duly made to him, shall—
(a)grant or refuse to grant the certificate of discharge; and
(b)notify (in addition to the interim trustee) the debtor, the permanent trustee, and all creditors who have made such representations, accordingly.
(4)The interim trustee, the permanent trustee, the debtor or any creditor who has made representations under subsection (2)(a) above may, within 14 days after the issuing of the determination under subsection (3) above, appeal therefrom to the sheriff and if the sheriff determines that a certificate of discharge which has been refused should be granted he shall order the Accountant in Bankruptcy to grant it; and the sheriff clerk shall send a copy of the decree of the sheriff to the Accountant in Bankruptcy.
[F1(4A)The decision of the sheriff in an appeal under subsection (4) above shall be final.]
(5)The grant of a certificate of discharge under this section by the Accountant in Bankruptcy shall have the effect of discharging the interim trustee from all liability (other than any liability arising from fraud) to the creditors or to the debtor in respect of any act or omission of the interim trustee in exercising the functions conferred on him by this Act.
(6)Where a certificate of discharge is granted under this section, the permanent trustee shall make an appropriate entry in the sederunt book.
(7)Where the interim trustee has died, resigned office or been removed from office, then once the accounts of his intromissions (if any) with the debtor’s estate are or have been submitted to and audited by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, the Accountant in Bankruptcy shall issue a determination fixing the amount of the outlays and remuneration payable to the interim trustee and the provisions of subsection (4) of section 26 of this Act and the foregoing provisions of this section shall, subject to any necessary modifications, apply in relation to that interim trustee or, if he has died, to his executor as they apply in relation to an interim trustee receiving a copy of such a determination under subsection (3)(b)(i) of that section.
[F1(7A)This section does not apply in any case where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is the interim trustee.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 27(4A) inserted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 16(2) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3
S. 27(7A) inserted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 16(3) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3