Misuse of Drugs Act
(Chapter 185, Section 43)
Misuse of Drugs (Board of Visitors for
Approved Institutions) Regulations
Rg 4
G.N. No. S 271/1978

REVISED EDITION 1990
(25th March 1992)
[8th December 1978]
Citation
1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs (Board of Visitors for Approved Institutions) Regulations.
Application
2.  These Regulations shall not apply to the Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Unit (DARU) of the Ministry of Defence.
Definitions
3.  In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
“Board” means the Board of Visitors appointed by the Minister under regulation 4;
“Superintendent” means a person appointed to be in charge of an approved institution.
Appointment of Board of Visitors
4.—(1)  The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint a Board of Visitors to advise and make recommendations to the Superintendent in respect of the matters referred to in regulation 10 at any approved institution.
(2)  A Board of Visitors may be appointed for one or more approved institutions as the Minister thinks fit.
Number and revocation
5.—(1)  The number of members of any Board of Visitors appointed by the Minister under these Regulations shall be at the discretion of the Minister.
(2)  The Minister may at any time revoke the appointment of any member of the Board.
Period of office
6.  A member of the Board shall hold office for a period of not more than two years from the date of his appointment and shall be eligible for reappointment on completion of that period unless the member resigns during his period of office or unless his appointment is revoked by the Minister under regulation 5(2).
Circumstances where member ceases to hold appointment
7.  A person appointed as a member of the Board shall cease to hold such appointment —
(a)on his death, resignation or absence from Singapore for more than 3 months without the prior permission of the Minister; or
(b)if the Minister revokes such appointment.
Vacancies
8.  A vacancy occurring in the Board shall be filled by a fresh appointment made by the Minister, and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for so long as the member in whose place he is appointed would have held office.
Superintendent to assist
9.  The Superintendent shall assist any member of the Board in the exercise of his powers and the discharge of his functions under these Regulations.
Functions of members
10.—(1)  Members of the Board shall satisfy themselves that the health, maintenance, recreation and discipline of the inmates are satisfactory and that an efficient standard is maintained throughout each approved institution, but shall not be concerned with the general administrative matters of the approved institutions.
(2)  Members of the Board shall on every visit hear any complaint which any inmate may wish to make to them.
(3)  Members of the Board shall send their comments and recommendations regarding an approved institution to the Superintendent.
(4)  The Superintendent shall take such action as may be necessary on any recommendations made under paragraph (3) and report to the Board on any action taken as soon as possible.
Visits
11.  No fewer than two members of the Board shall visit each approved institution in respect of which they are appointed at least once a month.
[G.N. No. S 271/78]