England and Wales · Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
When must permission be sought below in a contempt appeal?
For the contempt appeals listed in CPR 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii), seek permission from the specified court within 28 days after it provides reasons. This is the court-below application, not the later Supreme Court application.
- Period
- 28 calendar days after the established operative event
- Trigger
- Date on which the court provides reasons for its decision
- Rule
- CPR 52.3A
CPR 52.3A and its official supporting provisions were retained on October 8, 2026. This review concerns when must permission be sought below in a contempt appeal, not an earlier rule edition or a different appeal route.
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When must permission be sought below in a contempt appeal?
For the contempt appeals listed in CPR 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii), seek permission from the specified court within 28 days after it provides reasons. This is the court-below application, not the later Supreme Court application.
Responsible actor. Contempt appellant.
The court-below 28 days runs after provision of decision reasons. UKSC civil-contempt timing uses its own inclusive refusal-or-later-reasons event.
Rule 52.3A(1)(b) uses the date that the court provides its reasons, which can differ from the bare decision.
The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings.
CPR 52.3AHow does this provision count time?
- For the contempt appeals listed in CPR 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii), seek permission from the specified court within 28 days after it provides reasons. This is the court-below application, not the later Supreme Court application.
- Rule 52.3A identifies the Divisional Court, relevant single High Court judge or Court of Appeal as applicable.
- Make the permission application to the court identified in rule 52.3A(1)(a). Establish who applies before considering the defendant-specific extension power.
For CPR 52.3A, exclude the established starting day and count the next 28 calendar days. CPR 2.8(3)(b) does not exclude an additional fixed compliance day. This is the ordinary fixed-after branch, not a minimum interval between two specified events.
The CPR 52.3A court-office filing act can use CPR 2.8(5) when its fixed endpoint is closed. Check the actual office, any exceptional closure and the order. This does not extend a separate service act.
CPR 52.3AWhat do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The appropriate court provides reasons on October 08 in a qualifying rule 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii) appeal. The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | The appropriate court provides reasons on October 08 in a qualifying rule 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii) appeal. The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings. Exactly 28 counted calendar dates follow the established event; the starting date is excluded. | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | The appropriate court provides reasons on September 26 in a qualifying rule 52.3(1)(c)(i)–(iii) appeal. For this calendar counterexample the case and event branch are otherwise established. The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings. Ordinary England/Wales weekend or August 31 bank holiday. No exceptional court-office closure or contrary direction. Exactly 28 counted calendar dates follow the established event; the starting date is excluded. | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The contempt decision is announced earlier, but the qualifying court provides reasons on Monday, August 3, 2026. The reasons event starts this court-below permission branch. The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings. This example establishes the stated operative branch independently of the calendar arithmetic. Exactly 28 counted calendar dates follow the established event; the starting date is excluded. | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Established procedural branch
- The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings.
- Required completion
- Make the permission application to the court identified in rule 52.3A(1)(a). Establish who applies before considering the defendant-specific extension power.
- Related procedure distinction
- The court-below 28 days runs after provision of decision reasons. UKSC civil-contempt timing uses its own inclusive refusal-or-later-reasons event.
- The qualifying court is the Divisional Court, a single High Court judge acting on appeal, or the Court of Appeal in the listed contempt proceedings.
- The court-below 28 days runs after provision of decision reasons. UKSC civil-contempt timing uses its own inclusive refusal-or-later-reasons event.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must permission be sought below in a contempt appeal?
Does contempt permission time start at the bare decision?
Rule 52.3A(1)(b) uses the date that the court provides its reasons, which can differ from the bare decision.
CPR 52.3AWhich court receives this contempt permission application?
Rule 52.3A identifies the Divisional Court, relevant single High Court judge or Court of Appeal as applicable.
CPR 52.3ADoes this cover an ordinary first-instance County Court committal appeal?
The listed 52.3(1)(c) branches must be established. Do not treat every contempt appeal as this permission application.
CPR 52.3AWho may use the express contempt extension provision?
Rule 52.15A expressly permits a defendant in contempt proceedings to apply to extend rule 52.3A time.
CPR 52.15A, defendant contempt extensionCan an applicant for committal assume the same express extension?
No. The defendant-specific wording requires separate review of the actor and any available power.
CPR 52.15A, defendant contempt extensionIs the later UKSC application also counted after these reasons?
It has its own PD 1.16 refusal-or-later-reasons event and inclusive wording. Keep the two applications separate.
CPR 52.3AOfficial sources and review
Provisions used (4)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CPR 52.3A | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 2.8, calculation of time | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 52.15, variation of time | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| CPR 52.15A, defendant contempt extension | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |