Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 31/1986

Read the first time on 9th December 1986.

An Act to amend the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Act 1981 (No. 17 of 1981).

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (Amendment) Act 1986 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Repeal and re-enactment of section 3

2. Section 3 of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Act 1981 (referred to in this Act as the principal Act) is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:

“Constitution of Board

3.—(1) The Board shall consist of such number of members who are elected at an annual general meeting by persons whose names appear on the Membership Register maintained by the Board under section 5.

(2) Every elected member of the Board shall hold office for a term of two years, but may continue in office until the election of his successor in office.

(3) No person shall be elected or appointed as a member of the Board unless he is a citizen of Singapore and his name is on the Membership Register maintained by the Board under section 5.

(4) Members of the Board shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment.”.

Repeal and re-enactment of sections 5 and 6

3. Sections 5 and 6 of the principal Act are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:

“Membership Register

5. The Board shall maintain a register (referred to in this Act as the Membership Register) containing the names and other particulars of persons who profess the Sikh faith.

Vacation of office of member of Board

6. If any member of the Board dies, resigns or otherwise vacates his office before the expiry of his term, the remaining members of the Board shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the residue of the term for which his predecessor was elected.”.

Amendment of section 7

4. Section 7(1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the word “twelve” and substituting the words “50% of the”.

Amendment of section 10

5. Section 10 of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “A copy of the minutes shall be sent to the Minister.” at the end of subsection (2).

Repeal and re-enactment of section 11

6. Section 11 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:

“Disqualifications for membership of Board

11. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to hold office as a member of the Board if —

(a)	he is an undischarged bankrupt or suspends payment to, or makes any arrangement or composition with, his creditors;
(b)	he has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 6 months and has not received a free pardon; or
(c)	a resolution is passed at an extraordinary general meeting of those persons whose names appear on the Membership Register calling for the removal of such member from office.”.

Amendment of section 14

7. Section 14 of the principal Act is amended —

(a)	by deleting the words “The Minister shall appoint the first two auditors.” in subsection (2); and
(b)	by deleting subsection (3).

Amendment of section 16

8. Section 16 of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “, with the approval of the Minister,” in the first line.

Transitional provision

9.—(1) Notwithstanding the repeal of section 3 of the principal Act, members of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board holding office immediately prior to the commencement of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (Amendment) Act 1986 shall continue to hold office until new members of the Board are elected in accordance with section 3 of the principal Act as amended by this Act.

(2) The members of the existing Central Sikh Gurdwara Board appointed by the Minister under section 3(4) of the principal Act shall, within 6 months of the commencement of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (Amendment) Act 1986, convene a general meeting of those persons whose names are on the Membership Register for the purpose of electing new members of the Board.

(3) The first two auditors appointed by the Minister immediately prior to the commencement of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (Amendment) Act 1986 shall continue to hold office until new auditors are elected in accordance with section 14(2) of the principal Act as amended by this Act.

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