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(1) Except as may be otherwise ordered by a court or tribunal in the interest of public morality, public safety or public order, the proceedings of every court or tribunal including the announcement of the decision of the court or tribunal shall be held in public.

(2) Nothing contained in subsection (1) of this section shall prevent a court or tribunal from excluding from the proceedings persons other than the parties to the case or action and their counsel, to such an extent as the court or tribunal may consider necessary or expedient -

(a) in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interest of justice or any interlocutory proceedings; or

(b) in the interest of defence, public safety, public morality, the welfare of persons under the age of majority or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings.

(3) Subject to the provisions of article 125 and clause (4) of article 140 of the Constitution and to any rules of court, a court or member of the court or tribunal exercising a function under the Constitution, this Act, of any other enactment may discharge the function in chambers.

(4) The parties to any proceeding to which subsection (3) of this section applies shall be informed in writing of the decision to discharge in chambers any function referred to in that subsection.