Registrar's Circular No. 10 2020

On 19 May 2020, the Ministry of Health issued a press release entitled “End of Circuit Breaker, Phased Approach to Resuming Activities Safely”, announcing a controlled approach to resuming activities safely over three phases after the end of the circuit breaker period on 1 June 2020. In view of the press release, the Relevant Period mentioned in Registrar’s Circular No. 8 of 2020 and Registrar’s Circular No. 9 of 2020 will end on 1 June 2020. Those two Registrar’s Circulars will cease to apply after 1 June 2020.

2 Registrar’s Circular No. 5 of 2020 (which specified, inter alia, the use of video or telephone conferencing for different types of hearings in the State Courts) will continue to apply after 1 June 2020, until further notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the use of video or telephone conferencing may, on a case-by-case basis, be incrementally expanded to hearings beyond that listed in the Schedule to Registrar’s Circular No. 5 of 2020. This could include, for example, portions of criminal trials that can suitably be carried out with parties or witnesses appearing remotely

3 Where a hearing on or after 7 April 2020 is conducted by means of video or telephone conferencing using a remote communication technology approved by the Chief Justice or authorised by the Court, and the Court has authorised the making of a recording of the hearing using such remote communication technology, the recording so made will, until further notice, constitute the official record of hearing for the purposes of Order 38A Rule 1 of the Rules of Court.

4 In the preparation, presentation and conduct of court hearings after 1 June 2020, parties are to strictly comply with all safe distancing and other applicable measures required, under the laws of Singapore or as prescribed by the Court, to minimise the local transmission of COVID-19. These include requirements such as the wearing of masks in the State Courts premises, as published on the State Courts website https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/cws/covid-19/Pages/COVID-19.aspx and on notices placed at courtrooms.

5 Unless otherwise directed by the Court, any requirement under the Rules of Court, the State Courts Practice Directions or the Court’s directions to tender to the Court documents in hard copy or in any media storage devices (including CD-ROMS) must be complied with.

6 Litigants-in-person appearing before the Small Claims Tribunals, Employment Claims Tribunals or Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, or before the District Court for applications for protection orders or expedited protection orders under the Protection from Harassment Act (Cap 256A) and who do not have access to an electronic device capable of supporting video conferencing should inform the Community Justice and Tribunals Division at Statecourts_cjtd@statecourts.gov.sg. To the extent available, video conferencing facilities will be made available in the State Courts to assist such litigantsin-person.

7 We will continue to monitor the situation. All court users and visitors are advised to refer to the State Courts website set out above for the latest information and updates, especially prior to visiting the Court premises.

Dated this 29^th day of May 2020.