Registrar's Circular No. 6 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. 4 of 2020 and Registrar’s Circular No. 5 of 2020 will end on 1 June 2020, and those Registrar’s Circulars will cease to apply after 1 June 2020.

2 Registrar’s Circular No. 3 of 2020 (which specifies the measures put in place in the Supreme Court to reduce the local transmission of COVID-19) will continue to apply after 1 June 2020 until further notice. Where a hearing on or after 7 April 2020 is conducted by means of video conferencing 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.

3 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 prescribed by the Court, to minimise the local transmission of COVID19. These include requirements, such as on the wearing of masks in the Supreme Court premises, that are published on the Supreme Court website at https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg and on notices placed at courtrooms.

4 Unless the Court directs otherwise, after 1 June 2020, any requirement under the Rules of Court, the Supreme Court 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.

5 We will continue to monitor the situation. All court users and visitors are advised to refer to the Supreme Court website at https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg for the latest information and updates, especially prior to visiting the Court premises.

Dated this 29^th day of May 2020.