Women’s Charter 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 9 · Enforcement of Maintenance Orders
77. Appointment of Chief MEO and other MEO
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023.
The Minister may, for the purposes of this Part, appoint any number of individuals that the Minister considers necessary as maintenance enforcement officers, of whom one is to be appointed by the Minister as the chief maintenance enforcement officer.
maintenance enforcement officer
“maintenance enforcement officer” or “MEO” means an individual appointed under section 77(1), and includes the chief maintenance enforcement officer or “Chief MEO”;
Every appointment under subsection (1) may be on any terms or conditions that may be specified by the Minister.
The Chief MEO is to exercise his or her powers, and to perform his or her functions and duties, under this Part subject to the general or special directions of the Minister insofar as the directions are not inconsistent with this Act.
MEO
“maintenance enforcement officer” or “MEO” means an individual appointed under section 77(1), and includes the chief maintenance enforcement officer or “Chief MEO”;
Every MEO (except the Chief MEO) is to exercise his or her powers, and to perform his or her functions and duties, under this Part subject to the general or special directions of the Chief MEO insofar as the directions are not inconsistent with this Act or the general or special directions of the Minister.
Every individual appointed under subsection (1) —
has the powers, functions and duties of an MEO; and
is deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871 when exercising the powers or performing the functions or duties of an MEO.
No liability shall lie personally against an MEO or the Chief MEO (as the case may be) for anything that is done or purported to be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and with reasonable care in —
the exercise or purported exercise of any power under this Part; or
the performance or purported performance of any function or duty under this Part.
Notice of the appointments made under subsection (1) must be published in the Gazette or in a manner that brings the appointments to the general notice of the public, which may include publication on a website.
In this section, a reference to the Minister includes a reference to any of the following persons designated by the Minister to exercise the power under subsection (1) (including the power to specify terms and conditions under subsection (2) or to give any general or special directions under subsection (3) or (4)):
a Second Minister, Minister of State or Senior Minister of State for the Ministry under the charge of the Minister;
a Parliamentary Secretary, Senior Parliamentary Secretary or Permanent Secretary to the Ministry under the charge of the Minister.