Subordinate Courts (Amendment) Bill

The subordinate courts shall have power to punish for contempt of court where the contempt is committed —

in the face of the court; or

in connection with any proceedings in the subordinate courts.(2) Where contempt of court is committed in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1), the court may impose imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $2,000 or both.(3) The court may discharge the offender or remit the punishment if the court thinks it just to do so.(4) In any case where the contempt is punishable as an offence under section 175, 178, 179, 180 or 228 of the Penal Code [Cap. 224], the court may, in lieu of punishing the offender for contempt, refer the matter to the Attorney-General with a view to instituting criminal proceedings against the offender.”.

by deleting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:“(1) The Rules Committee appointed under section 80(3) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act [Cap. 322] may make Rules of Court regulating and prescribing the procedure and the practice to be followed in the District Courts and the Magistrates, Courts in the exercise of their civil jurisdiction and any matters incidental to or relating to any such procedure or practice.”; and

by deleting subsections (4), (5) and (6).

by deleting the definition of “rules” in section 2 and substituting the following definition:“ “rules” means rules made under section 44;”; and

by deleting the words “by the Chief Justice under section 69(4) of the Subordinate Courts Act” in the first and second lines of section 44(1) and substituting the words “under section 80(3) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act [Cap. 322]”.