s 52 Civil jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts
52.—(1) Subject to subsection (1A), a Magistrate’s Court has all the jurisdiction of the General Division of the High Court to hear and try any action in personam where —(a) the defendant is served with an originating claim or any other originating process —(i) in Singapore in the manner prescribed by Rules of Court; or (ii) outside Singapore in the circumstances authorised by and in the manner prescribed by Rules of Court; or[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] (b) the defendant submits to the jurisdiction of a Magistrate’s Court.[31/2010; 40/2019] (1A) The jurisdiction of a Magistrate’s Court under subsection (1) does not include jurisdiction to hear and try any action where —(a) there is no claim for any sum of money; (aa) the action is in passing off;[Act 23 of 2019 wef 01/04/2022] (b) the amount claimed in the action exceeds the Magistrate’s Court limit; or (c) any remedy or relief sought in the action, in addition or as an alternative to the amount claimed in the action, is in respect of a subject matter the value of which exceeds the Magistrate’s Court limit.[31/2010] (1B) A Magistrate’s Court has, in any proceedings within its jurisdiction under subsection (1) —(a) the power —(i) to grant such relief, redress or remedy or combination of remedies, either absolute or conditional; and (ii) to give such and the like effect to every ground of defence or counterclaim equitable or legal, as ought to be granted or given in the like action by the General Division of the High Court and in as full and ample a manner; (b) without limiting paragraph (a), the power —(i) to grant an injunction; (ii) to make binding declarations of rights; and (iii) to order medical examination of a person who is a party to any proceedings where the physical or mental condition of the person is relevant to any matter in question in the proceedings; (c) the power to make any order or to exercise any authority or jurisdiction which, if it related to a proceeding pending in the General Division of the High Court, might be made or exercised by a Judge sitting in chambers in the General Division of the High Court; and (d) the powers conferred on a District Court by —(i) sections 43 and 49A; and[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] (ii) section 12 of the Civil Law Act 1909.[31/2010; 40/2019] (2) In exercising its jurisdiction under subsection (1) or powers under subsection (1B), a Magistrate’s Court is subject to the same limitations and provisions as are applicable to a District Court under this Act.[31/2010] (3) The President may, after consulting the Chief Justice, by order vary the Magistrate’s Court limit.