(1) The person against whom the applicant claims relief (hereinafter referred to as ‘opposite party’) shall at or before the first hearing, or within such further time as the Claims Tribunal may allow, file a written statement dealing with the claim raised in the application, and any such written statement shall form part of the record.
(2) The opposite party shall file with his written statement, all the documents and affidavits for the proof thereof and also affidavits in support of all facts on which he relies in context of his defence of the application, duly entered in a properly prepared list of documents and affidavits and shall give to the applicant copies of the written statement, documents and affidavits, provided that the Claims Tribunal may not allow the opposite party to rely in support of his defence on any document or affidavit not filed along with the written statement unless it is satisfied that, for good or sufficient cause, he was prevented from filling such document or affidavit earlier.
(3) If the opposite party contests the claim, the Claims Tribunal may, and if no written statement has been filed, it shall, proceed to examine him upon the claim and shall reduce the substance of the examination to writing.
(4) The Claims Tribunal may also require the opposite parties to furnish the following information:- a) full particulars of all earlier accidents in which such party may have been involved, and in which the claims have been awarded at least in part.
b) the amount of compensation paid in such earlier accidents, the name(s) and address(es) of the victims and of the persons who paid the damages; and c) relation of persons mentioned in clause (b), if any, with the opposite party.