Constitution of the Republic of Singapore · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 5 · The Government
35A. Deputy Attorneys-General
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2019. 2 amendments in all.
The President may, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint one or more Deputy Attorneys‑General from individuals who are eligible for appointment as the Attorney‑General.
President
“President” means the President of Singapore elected under this Constitution and includes any person for the time being exercising the functions of the office of President;
Before tendering any advice to the President under clause (1), the Prime Minister must consult the Attorney‑General and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
Prime Minister
“Prime Minister” means the Prime Minister of Singapore appointed under this Constitution;
However, the Prime Minister need not consult any person under clause (2) if he is satisfied that it is impracticable to do so because of the infirmity of body or mind of that person or for any other reason.
A Deputy Attorney‑General is, subject to the general direction and control of the Attorney‑General, to perform such duties of the Attorney‑General referred to in Article 35(7) or (8) as may be assigned by the Attorney‑General, and shall be responsible to the Attorney‑General for that due performance.
In the performance of his duties, a Deputy Attorney‑General has the right of audience in, and takes precedence over any person (other than the Attorney‑General) appearing before, any court or tribunal in Singapore.
A Deputy Attorney‑General holds office —
until the end of the specific period he is appointed for (without prejudice to reappointment); or
if no period is so specified, until he attains 60 years of age.
The President may, on the advice of the Prime Minister, permit a Deputy Attorney‑General who has attained the age of 60 years to remain in office for such fixed period as may be agreed between the Deputy Attorney‑General and the Government.
However, a Deputy Attorney‑General may at any time earlier resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President or may be earlier removed under clause (9).
A Deputy Attorney‑General may be removed from office by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister may advise the President for the purposes of clause (9) only on the following grounds, with which a tribunal consisting of the Chief Justice and 2 other Supreme Court Judges nominated for that purpose by the Chief Justice must concur:
the inability of the Deputy Attorney‑General concerned to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or any other cause); (b)any misbehaviour of the Deputy Attorney‑General concerned.
A Deputy Attorney‑General is to be paid such remuneration and allowances as may from time to time be determined (all of which are charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund), and his terms of service are —
remuneration
“remuneration”, in respect of any public officer, means only the emoluments of that officer, the whole or any part of which count for pension or gratuity in accordance with the provisions of any law relating to the grant of pensions or gratuities in respect of the public service;
to be prescribed in regulations made by the President and published in the Gazette; or
to be determined by the President in so far as they are not determined by or under any such law.
The terms of service of a Deputy Attorney‑General must not be altered to his disadvantage during his continuance in office; and in so far as any of those terms of service depend upon his option, any terms that he opts for shall be taken to be more advantageous to him than any for which he might have opted.
terms of service
“terms of service”, in respect of any officer, includes the remuneration to which that officer is entitled by virtue of his office, and any pension, gratuity or other like allowance payable to or in respect of that officer;
The tribunal referred to in clause (10) is to regulate its own procedure and may make rules for that purpose.
To avoid doubt, nothing done by a Deputy Attorney‑General shall be invalid by reason only that he has attained the age at which he is required by this Article to vacate his office.