(1) Without limiting Rule 50.07(1), at any stage of a proceeding an Associate Judge may, with or without the consent of any party—
(a) of the Associate Judge's own motion; or
Rule 50.07.1(1)(b) amended by S.R. No. 98/2020 rule 4.
(b) on the reference of a Judge of the Court or a judicial registrar—
order that the proceeding or any part of the proceeding be mediated by an Associate Judge.
(2) If an Associate Judge undertakes a mediation, the Associate Judge may give any direction with respect to the conduct of the mediation as the Associate Judge thinks fit.
(3) Except so far as the Associate Judge otherwise orders, an order for mediation under this Rule shall not operate as a stay of the proceeding.