Singapore legislation

Clause 6

of Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill

Clause 6

New section 45A

The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 45, the following section:“Court or Appeal Board may conduct hearing through electronic means of communication45A.—

(1)

Without limiting section 46, the Court or an Appeal Board may conduct the hearing of any matter or proceeding (other than a matter or proceeding prescribed by any rules made under section 145) through a live video link, a live television link, a live audio link or any other electronic means of communication approved by the senior president of the Court or the person nominated to preside over the Appeal Board under section 55(4), as the case may be.(2) The Court or an Appeal Board must not conduct any part of a hearing through a live audio link, without an accompanying live video link or live television link —

(a)

where oral evidence is given during that part of the hearing (including in a trial of an action) unless all the parties consent; or

(b)

where the matter is prescribed by any rules made under section 145.(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Court or Appeal Board is not considered to have conducted a part of a hearing of a matter through a live audio link only and without an accompanying live video link or live television link, by reason only of a temporary disruption in the accompanying live video link or live television link that was insignificant and which did not affect the duty of the Court or Appeal Board to conduct proceedings fairly.(4) The Court or an Appeal Board must not conduct a hearing of a matter or proceeding in the manner provided under subsection (1), if to do so would be inconsistent with the duty of the Court or Appeal Board to ensure that the hearing is conducted fairly to all parties.(5) The Court is deemed to be sitting at the place mentioned in section 44(1) or (2) (as the case may be) when the Court conducts a hearing of a matter or proceeding in the manner provided under subsection (1) (whether any president of the Court, the registrar of the Court or a deputy registrar of the Court is situated in Singapore or outside Singapore).(6) An Appeal Board is deemed to be sitting at the place mentioned in any rules made under this Act when the Appeal Board conducts a hearing of a matter or proceeding in the manner provided under subsection (1) (whether any member of the Appeal Board is situated in Singapore or outside Singapore).”.

Clause 6 — Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill