Supreme Court of Judicature (Transfer of Matrimonial, Divorce and Guardianship of Infants Proceedings to District Court) Order 2003

No. S 557

Supreme Court of Judicature Act

(Chapter 322)

Supreme Court of Judicature (Transfer of Matrimonial, Divorce and Guardianship of Infants Proceedings to District Court) Order 2003

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 28A of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, I, Yong Pung How, Chief Justice, hereby make the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Supreme Court of Judicature (Transfer of Matrimonial, Divorce and Guardianship of Infants Proceedings to District Court) Order 2003 and shall come into operation on 15th December 2003.

Proceedings transferred to District Court

2.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), any proceedings under —

(a)	section 59 and Part X of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353); or
(b)	the Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122),

commenced in the High Court on or after 15th December 2003 shall be transferred to and be heard and determined by a District Court.

(2) In matrimonial proceedings under Part X of the Women’s Charter transferred to a District Court under sub-paragraph (1), where —

(a)	an application is made for the division of matrimonial assets;
(b)	the application is contested; and
(c)	the gross value of the matrimonial assets is asserted by any party to the proceedings, in the manner required by the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts, to be of or above the value of $1.5 million,

the proceedings shall, upon the direction of the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts that the ancillary issues are ready for hearing, be transferred to and be heard and determined by the High Court.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2), “gross value of the matrimonial assets” means the total value of the assets, disregarding any outstanding liabilities attaching thereto or any personal liabilities.

Jurisdiction of District Court

3. For the avoidance of doubt, a District Court shall, subject to paragraph 2(2), have jurisdiction to hear and determine any proceedings referred to in paragraph 2(1) regardless of the monetary amount involved.

Powers of Registrar of Subordinate Courts

4.—(1) For the purpose of any proceedings to be heard and determined by a District Court pursuant to this Order, the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts shall have power to transact all such business and exercise all such authority and jurisdiction as may be transacted and exercised by a District Judge in Chambers under —

(a)	the Women’s Charter or the Guardianship of Infants Act, as the case may be, or any rules made under those Acts; or
(b)	the provisions of this Order,

except such business, authority and jurisdiction as the Senior District Judge may, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, from time to time direct to be transacted or exercised by a District Judge in person.

(2) The Registrar of the Subordinate Courts shall, in relation to any order for the execution of a deed or for the signing of a document made by a District Court in connection with any proceedings heard and determined by it pursuant to this Order, have the same powers as those conferred on the Registrar of the Supreme Court by section 14 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322).

Modification to certain provisions for purposes of this Order

5. For the purpose of any proceedings to be heard and determined by a District Court pursuant to this Order, the written laws specified in the first column of the appropriate Part of the Schedule shall be read subject to the modifications set out opposite thereto in the second column thereof.

Procedure for appeals

6. Rule 31 of the Women’s Charter (Matrimonial Proceedings) Rules 2003 (G.N. No. S 167/2003) shall not apply to any proceedings under section 59 and Part X of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353) which, pursuant to this Order, are heard and determined by a District Court, and the procedures for appeals from such proceedings to the High Court and thereafter to the Court of Appeal shall be as specified in the Rules of Court (R 5).

Fees for proceedings under Women’s Charter

7.—(1) The Women’s Charter (Matrimonial Proceedings — Fees) Rules 2003 (G.N. No. S 193/2003), with the exception of rule 4 thereof, shall apply to any proceedings under section 59 and Part X of the Women’s Charter which, pursuant to this Order, are heard and determined by a District Court.

(2) The fees chargeable in respect of appeals to the High Court and the Court of Appeal in such proceedings shall be as specified in Appendix B to the Rules of Court.

Fees for proceedings under Guardianship of Infants Act

8. For the purpose of any proceedings under the Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122) heard and determined by a District Court pursuant to this Order, the fees chargeable for any document filed in or issued by the Registry of the Supreme Court or the Registry of the Subordinate Courts shall be as prescribed in the Rules of Court (R 5).

Enforcement of orders

9. Any order made by a District Court in proceedings heard and determined by it pursuant to this Order may be enforced by a District Court in the same manner as a judgment of that court, notwithstanding that such order may involve an amount which exceeds the monetary limit of the ordinary jurisdiction of a District Court.

Revocation and savings

10.—(1) The Supreme Court of Judicature (Transfer of Matrimonial, Divorce and Guardianship of Infants Proceedings to District Court) Order (O 1) is revoked.

(2) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (1), the revoked Supreme Court of Judicature (Transfer of Matrimonial, Divorce and Guardianship of Infants Proceedings to District Court) Order shall continue to apply to proceedings under section 59 and Part X of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353) and the Guardianship of Infants Act commenced before 15th December 2003 as if that Order had not been revoked.

Made this 11th day of November 2003.

YONG PUNG HOW

Chief Justice,
Singapore.

[SubC8/96; AG/LEG/SL/322/2001/1 Vol. 3]

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