Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
Appointment of Registrar, Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrars
61.—(1) The President may, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, appoint a Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrars of the Supreme Court. (2) A person must not be appointed to be or to act as the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar or an Assistant Registrar unless he or she is a qualified person as defined in section 2 of the Legal Profession Act 1966.
Powers and duties of Registrar, Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrars
62.—(1) The Registrar, the Deputy Registrar and the Assistant Registrars have, subject to the provisions of this Act or any other written law, such jurisdiction, powers and duties as may be prescribed by Rules of Court. (2) Subject to Rules of Court, all the powers and duties conferred and imposed on the Registrar may be exercised or performed by the Deputy Registrar or the Assistant Registrars.
Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff and Assistant Sheriffs of Supreme Court
63.—(1) The Registrar is the Sheriff and the Deputy Registrar is the Deputy Sheriff and the Assistant Registrars are the Assistant Sheriffs of the Supreme Court. (2) The Deputy Sheriff and the Assistant Sheriffs have all the powers and privileges and may perform all the duties of the Sheriff.
Powers and duties of Sheriff
64.—(1) The Sheriff or his or her officers must —(a) execute all writs, summonses, rules, orders, warrants, commands and process of the Supreme Court given to him or her by the Court for that purpose; (b) make a return of the same together with the manner of the execution thereof to the Supreme Court from which the process issued; and (c) receive all persons committed to his or her custody by the Supreme Court. (2) The Sheriff or his or her officers in executing any enforcement order for seizure and sale of property, any other enforcement order or any writ of distress may effect an entry into any building, and for that purpose if necessary may break open any outer or inner door or window of the building or any receptacle therein, using such force as is reasonably necessary to effect an entry.[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] (3) The Sheriff may engage any auxiliary police officer appointed under the Police Force Act 2004*, any security agency, a provider of transport and of warehousing, a valuer, an estate agent, a broker, a solicitor or any other appropriate person to assist the Sheriff in the discharge of the Sheriff’s duties.[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Sheriff not to act when an interested party
65. Where in any cause or matter the Sheriff is an interested party, the court may appoint for that purpose an officer or a person who may act in the place of the Sheriff.
Solicitor authorised to act as officer of Sheriff
65A.—(1) Subject to such directions as may be given by the Chief Justice, the Registrar may authorise a solicitor or a person employed by a solicitor to exercise the powers and perform the duties of an officer of the Sheriff during such period or on such occasion as the Registrar thinks fit and subject to such terms and conditions as the Registrar may determine. (2) Section 79(2) applies to a solicitor or person authorised under subsection (1) as it applies to an officer of the Supreme Court.
Duties of Accountant
66.—(1) An Accountant is to be appointed by the Chief Justice for the Supreme Court. (2) The Accountant must do all things necessary to execute the orders of the Supreme Court relating to the payment or delivery or depositing of suitors’ money, jewels, precious stones and securities into or in the Accountant’s custody, and investing the money of suitors and keeping the accounts thereof.
Subordinate officers of Supreme Court
67.—(1) There are to be attached to the Supreme Court commissioners for oaths, interpreters, clerks, process servers and other officers as, from time to time, appear to the Chief Justice to be necessary for the administration of justice and the due execution of all powers and duties which are vested in the Supreme Court. (2) Those of the officers attached to the Supreme Court as may be thought necessary or proper for the performance of any special duties in connection with any particular Judge may, with the approval of the Chief Justice, be attached to that Judge.
Commissioners for oaths
68.—(1) The Registrar, the Deputy Registrar and the Assistant Registrars are ex-officio commissioners for oaths. (2) The Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law may appoint fit and proper persons to be commissioners for oaths (subject to any limitations expressed in their appointment) who may do all or any of the following things:(a) receive acknowledgements of married women in all cases where such acknowledgements are required by law to be taken before a public officer; (b) receive acknowledgements of recognisances of bail and bail bonds; (c) administer oaths for —(i) the justification for bail; (ii) taking any affidavit or affirmation; (iii) receiving and taking the answer, plea, demurrer, disclaimer, allegation or examination of any party or parties to any action; (iv) the examination of any witnesses upon any interrogatories or de bene esse or in chief or on any other occasions; (v) swearing executors and administrators; and (vi) swearing persons in any cause or matter which is pending or about to be instituted in any court in any of its jurisdiction; (d) take and receive statutory declarations. (3) The Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law may make rules for the appointment and conduct of, fees to be charged by, fees payable to the Singapore Academy of Law by, and for all things appertaining to, commissioners for oaths and persons appointed by the Senate under subsection (2).
Oaths of officers
69.—(1) The Registrar, the Deputy Registrar, the Assistant Registrars and such other officers of the Supreme Court as may be required by the Chief Justice must, before exercising the functions of their respective offices, take and subscribe the appropriate oath of office set out in the Second Schedule.[Act 25 of 2023 wef 01/12/2023] (2) To avoid doubt, where an oath of office is required to be taken and subscribed under subsection (1), a person may take and subscribe the oath by appearing before the person administering the oath through a live video link or live television link created using a remote communication technology that allows the person administering the oath to —(a) maintain visual contact and communicate with the person taking the oath, and any interpreter present, throughout the process; (b) confirm the identity of the person taking the oath and any interpreter present; and (c) verify by inspection the oath to be subscribed.[Act 25 of 2023 wef 01/12/2023]
Apportionment of work
70. The Chief Justice may make such rules and regulations as he or she thinks fit for the apportionment of the work among the several officers of the Supreme Court.
Registry of Supreme Court
71.—(1) There shall be an office of the Supreme Court called the Registry comprising such departments as the Chief Justice may, from time to time, determine. (2) The Registry is under the control and supervision of the Registrar.
Registry to be open throughout the year
72.—(1) The Registry of the Supreme Court is to be open on every day of the year except on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. (2) Despite subsection (1), the Registrar may lawfully sit or carry out the business of the Registry on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday if —(a) the Chief Justice has directed the Registrar to do so on that day; or (b) in the opinion of the Registrar, the business to be despatched is extremely urgent. (3) The office hours of the Registry are such times as the Chief Justice may from time to time direct.
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Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. Read the official text ↗
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
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