Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · The Supreme Court
8A. Court may conduct hearing through electronic means of communication
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2021. 2 amendments in all.
Without limiting section 8, the court may conduct the hearing of any matter or proceeding (other than a matter or proceeding prescribed by the Rules of Court, the Family Justice Rules or the Criminal Procedure Rules) through a live video link, a live television link, a live audio link or any other electronic means of communication approved by the Chief Justice.
court
“court” means the General Division, the Appellate Division, or the Court of Appeal;
Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of section 26A of the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act 2016, section 62A of the Evidence Act 1893 and section 281 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.
A court must not conduct any part of a hearing of a matter through a live audio link only, without an accompanying live video link or live television link —
where oral evidence is given during that part of the hearing (including in a trial of an offence) in a criminal proceeding;
where oral evidence is given during that part of the hearing (including in a trial of an action) in a civil proceeding, unless all the parties consent; or
where the matter is prescribed by the Rules of Court, the Family Justice Rules or the Criminal Procedure Rules.
For the purposes of subsection (3), a court 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 court’s duty to conduct proceedings fairly.
A court 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 court’s duty to ensure that the hearing is conducted fairly to all parties.
A court is deemed to be sitting at a place appointed under section 11(1), 34(1)(a) or 52(1)(a) (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 Judge or Registrar sitting in the court is situated in Singapore or outside Singapore).
Judge
“Judge” means a Supreme Court Judge, a Judicial Commissioner, a Senior Judge or an International Judge, and —(a)in relation to the General Division, means a Judge sitting in that Division in accordance with the Constitution and this Act;(b)in relation to the Appellate Division, means a Judge sitting in that Division in accordance with the Constitution and this Act; and(c)in relation to the Court of Appeal, means a Judge sitting in that Court in accordance with the Constitution and this Act;