On 24/05/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 24/05/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 24/05/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 01/08/1999.
Original Jurisdiction
15.
—(1) The High Court shall have jurisdiction to try all offences committed —
(a)
within Singapore;
(b)
on board any ship or aircraft registered in Singapore;
(c)
by any person who is a citizen of Singapore on the high seas or on any aircraft;
(d)
by any person on the high seas where the offence is piracy by the law of nations;
(e)
by any person within or outside Singapore where the offence is punishable under and by virtue of the provisions of the Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports Act (Cap. 124) ; and
(f)
in any place or by any person if it is provided in any written law that the offence is triable in Singapore.
[10/78; 16/93]
(2) The High Court may pass any sentence allowed by law.
16.
—(1) The High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and try any action in personam where —
(a)
the defendant is served with a writ or 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
(b)
the defendant submits to the jurisdiction of the High Court.
[16/93]
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the High Court shall have such jurisdiction as is vested in it by any other written law.
[16/93]
17. Without prejudice to the generality of section 16, the civil jurisdiction of the High Court shall include —
(a)
jurisdiction under any written law relating to divorce and matrimonial causes;
(b)
jurisdiction under any written law relating to matters of admiralty;
(c)
jurisdiction under any written law relating to bankruptcy or to companies;
(d)
jurisdiction to appoint and control guardians of infants and generally over the persons and property of infants;
(e)
jurisdiction to appoint and control guardians and keepers of the persons and estates of idiots, mentally disordered persons and persons of unsound mind; and
(f)
jurisdiction to grant probates of wills and testaments, letters of administration of the estates of deceased persons and to alter or revoke such grants.
[16/93]
17A.
—(1) Notwithstanding sections 16 and 17, the High Court shall have no jurisdiction to hear and try any civil proceedings involving matters which come within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court under section 35(2)(a), (b) or (c) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) in which all the parties are Muslims or where the parties were married under the provisions of the Muslim law.
[20/99]
(2) Notwithstanding that such matters come within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court under section 35(2)(d) or (e), 51 or 52(3)(c) or (d) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3), the High Court shall have jurisdiction as is vested in it by any written law to hear and try any civil proceedings involving matters relating to —
(a)
maintenance for any wife or child;
(b)
custody of any child; and
(c)
disposition or division of property on divorce.
[20/99]
(3) Where civil proceedings involving any matter referred to in subsection (2)(b) or (c) and involving parties who are Muslims or were married under the provisions of the Muslim law are commenced in the High Court, the High Court shall stay the civil proceedings —
(a)
involving any matter referred to in subsection (2)(b) or (c), if the civil proceedings are commenced on or after the commencement of proceedings for divorce in the Syariah Court or after the making of a decree or order for divorce by the Syariah Court or on or after the registration of any divorce under section 102 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act between the same parties, unless a Syariah Court commencement certificate in respect of the civil proceedings has been filed with the High Court;
(b)
involving any matter referred to in subsection (2)(b), if proceedings for divorce are commenced in the Syariah Court or a decree or order for divorce is made by the Syariah Court or a divorce is registered under section 102 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act between the same parties after the commencement of the civil proceedings, unless a Syariah Court continuation certificate in respect of the civil proceedings has been filed with the High Court.
[20/99]
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), where the proceedings in the Syariah Court are commenced on the same day as the civil proceedings in the High Court, the proceedings in the Syariah Court shall be deemed to have been commenced before the civil proceedings.
[20/99]
(5) Subsection (3)(a) shall not apply if the civil proceedings referred to therein are commenced in the High Court by the consent of the parties to the proceedings and the certificates of attendance of the parties issued under section 35A(7) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) have been filed in accordance with Rules of Court.
[20/99]
(6) Subsection (3)(b) shall not apply if the civil proceedings referred to therein are continued by the consent of the parties to the proceedings and the certificates of attendance of the parties issued under section 35A(7) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act have been filed in accordance with Rules of Court.
[20/99]
(7) For the avoidance of any doubt, the High Court, in exercising its jurisdiction or powers under subsection (2), shall apply the civil law.
[20/99]
(8) Notwithstanding section 3(2) of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353), section 112 of that Act shall apply to the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction or powers under subsection (2)(c).
[20/99]
(9) In this section —
“Syariah Court” means the Syariah Court constituted under the Administration of Muslim Law Act;
“Syariah Court commencement certificate” means a commencement certificate issued by the Syariah Court under section 35A(4) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act;
“Syariah Court continuation certificate” means a continuation certificate issued by the Syariah Court under section 35A(4) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act.
[20/99]
18.
—(1) The High Court shall have such powers as are vested in it by any written law for the time being in force in Singapore.
[16/93]
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the High Court shall have the powers set out in the First Schedule.
[16/93]
(3) The powers referred to in subsection (2) shall be exercised in accordance with any written law or Rules of Court relating to them.
[16/93]