247Summons and examination of witnesses

1. Witnesses may be summoned and sworn on the trial of an election petition to which section 229(3) applies in the same manner, as nearly as circumstances admit, as in the trial of an ordinary action.

2. The High Court may by order require any person who appears to the court to have been concerned in the election to attend as a witness.

3. Section 42 of the Senior Courts Act 2016 applies to a person who refuses or fails to comply with an order to attend as a witness.

4. The court may examine any person so required to attend or any person in court, although he or she is not called or examined by any party to the petition.

5. After the examination of a witness as aforesaid by the court, he or she may be cross-examined by or on behalf of the petitioner and respondent, or either of them.