Singapore legislation
Section 54E
Section 54E
Transfer of counterclaim from State Courts to General Division of High Court
(1)
Where, in any civil proceedings pending in a State Court, any counterclaim or set-off and counterclaim of any defendant involves a matter beyond the District Court limit, any party to the proceedings may apply to the General Division of the High Court, within such time as may be prescribed by Rules of Court, for an order that the whole proceedings, or the proceedings on the counterclaim or set-off and counterclaim, be transferred to the General Division of the High Court.
(2)
On any application under subsection (1) or on its own motion, the General Division of the High Court may, as it thinks fit, and on such terms as it sees fit, order —
that the whole proceedings be transferred to the General Division of the High Court;
that the whole proceedings be tried in the State Courts; or
that the proceedings on the counterclaim or set-off and counterclaim be transferred to the General Division of the High Court and that the proceedings on the plaintiff’s claim and the defence thereto other than the set‑off (if any) be tried in the State Courts.
(3)
Where an order is made under subsection (2)(c), and judgment on the claim is given for the plaintiff, execution thereon, unless the General Division of the High Court at any time otherwise orders, is to be stayed until the proceedings transferred to the General Division of the High Court have been concluded.
(4)
Where no application is made under subsection (1) or where it is ordered that the whole proceedings be tried in the State Courts, the State Court has jurisdiction to try the proceedings, despite any other provision of this Act.