Application as to discharge from custody
8.—(1) The judge may, at any time and at any place, hear any application as to the discharge of any person in custody committed for contempt of court and may make such order regarding that person as he might make if sitting in open court.
(2) Notice of an application for discharge from custody of a person committed for contempt of court shall be in Form 275 and shall be served on the opposite party (if any) at least two days before the day on which the application is intended to be heard, and an order for the discharge from custody of a person so committed shall be in Form 276; but the judge may, if he considers it necessary, hear the application ex parte and make such order thereon as he thinks fit.