Singapore legislation
Clause 15
Clause 15
Repeal and re-enactment of sections 32 and 33 and new section 33A
Sections 32 and 33 of the principal Act are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:“Powers of District Court same as High Court32.—
A District Court, as regards any action within its jurisdiction, shall in any proceedings before it —
grant such relief, redress or remedy or combination of remedies, either absolute or conditional; and
give such and the like effect to every ground of defence or counter-claim equitable or legal (subject to section 24),as ought to be granted or given in the like action by the High Court and in as full and ample a manner.(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a District Court shall, as regards any action within its jurisdiction, have power —
to grant an injunction whether or not any other relief is or could be claimed; and
to make binding declarations of rights whether or not any consequential relief is or could be claimed.Powers of District Judge in chambers
33. A District Judge shall have jurisdiction in any civil proceeding pending in a District Court to make any order or to exercise any authority or jurisdiction which, if it related to a proceeding pending in the High Court, might be made or exercised by a Judge of the High Court in chambers.Assessors33A.—
In any proceedings, a District Judge may, if he thinks fit on the application of any party, or on his own motion, summon to his assistance, in such manner as may be prescribed by Rules of Court, one or more persons of skill and experience in the matter to which the proceedings relate who may be willing to sit with the District Judge and act as assessors.(2) Subject to subsection (3), the remuneration of assessors for sitting under this section shall be at such rate as may be prescribed by Rules of Court and shall be costs in the proceedings unless otherwise ordered by the District Judge.(3) Where one or more assessors are summoned for the purposes of this section otherwise than on the application of a party to the proceedings, the remuneration of any such assessor shall be payable out of moneys provided by Parliament.(4) Where any person is proposed to be summoned as an assessor, objection to him, either personally or in respect of his qualification, may be taken by any party in the prescribed manner.”.