Singapore legislation

Clause 14

New sections 21A and 21B

The Women’s Charter is amended by inserting, immediately after section 21, the following sections:“Consents required for licences for minors who have not previously married21A.—

(1)

The Registrar must not issue a marriage licence for the marriage of a minor unless one of the following conditions is satisfied in relation to each person mentioned in the Second Schedule as a person whose consent is required for the marriage of the minor:

(a)

the person consents to the marriage;

(b)

the person refuses to consent to the marriage but the court consents to the marriage in lieu of the person;

(c)

the Registrar —

(i)

is satisfied that the consent of the person cannot be obtained because the person is absent, inaccessible or under a disability; and

(ii)

dispenses with the consent of the person.(2) The Minister must not grant a special marriage licence for the marriage of a minor unless one of the following conditions is satisfied in relation to each person mentioned in the Second Schedule as a person whose consent is required for the marriage of the minor:

(a)

the person consents to the marriage;

(b)

the person refuses to consent to the marriage but the court consents to the marriage in lieu of the person;

(c)

the Minister —

(i)

is satisfied that the consent of the person cannot be obtained because the person is absent, inaccessible or under a disability; and

(ii)

dispenses with the consent of the person.(3) Where an application is made to the court for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) —

(a)

notice of the application must be served on the person who refused to give consent;

(b)

the application must be heard in chambers; and

(c)

there is no appeal from the order of the court.(4) This section does not apply to a minor who —

(a)

was previously in a marriage that has been dissolved or annulled; or

(b)

is a widower or a widow.(5) In this section and the Second Schedule, “minor” means a person who is below 21 years of age.Marriage preparation programme21B. For the purposes of this Division, the Minister may, by rules made under section 180, prescribe —

(a)

one or more classes of persons who are required to attend and complete a marriage preparation programme before they may marry; and

(b)

what constitutes a marriage preparation programme.”.

Read in full context — Women’s Charter (Amendment) Bill →