Section 19: Summary administration

19. Summary administration (1) Where, on the hearing of a debtor’s petition, the Court makes a bankruptcy order and the conditions laid down under subsection (2) are satisfied, the Court shall, if it appears to be appropriate to do so, issue a certificate for the summary administration of the bankrupt’s estate. (2) The circumstances in which a certificate for summary administration may be issued are that— (a) the aggregate amount of the bankruptcy debts so far unsecured would be less than 500,000 rupees (called “the minimum amount”); and (b) within the period of 5 years ending with the filing of the petition, the debtor has neither been adjudicated bankrupt nor made a composition with his creditors in satisfaction of his debts or a proposal. (3) The Court may revoke a certificate issued under this section where it appears to it that, on any grounds existing at the time the certificate was issued, the certificate ought not to have been issued. (4) Where a certificate for summary administration is issued— (a) the Official Receiver may dispense with the first meeting of creditors provided for in section 26; (b) no fee shall be allowed to any law practitioner except on the certificate of the Court that the presence of counsel or attorney was necessary; and (c) the period after which the bankrupt is automatically discharged shall be 2 years. Section B – Interim Receiver