Part 1: Introduction

• 1. Citation and application
• 2. Definitions
• 3. References to written laws
• 4. Commencement
• 5. Updating
• 6. Applicability of Practice Directions
• Practice Directions to apply to civil proceedings
• Proceedings using the Electronic Filing Service
• 7. Calculation of time
• 8. Forms
• 9. Registrar’s Circulars

1. Citation and application

(1) These Practice Directions may be cited as the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021, and will apply, on and after 1 April 2022, to:

• (a) any cause or matter, in the General Division, the Appellate Division or the Court of Appeal, that is governed by the Rules of Court 2021; and
• (b) any criminal proceedings commenced, in the General Division or the Court of Appeal, on or after 1 April 2022.

(2) The Supreme Court Practice Directions as in force immediately before 1 April 2022 continue to apply, on and after 1 April 2022, to:

• (a) any cause or matter, in the General Division, the Appellate Division or the Court of Appeal, that is governed by the Rules of Court (Cap 322, R 5, 2014 Ed); and
• (b) any criminal proceedings commenced, in the General Division or the Court of Appeal, before 1 April 2022.

2. Definitions

In these Practice Directions, unless the context otherwise requires: “Appellate Division” means the Appellate Division of the High Court; and “General Division” means the General Division of the High Court.

3. References to written laws

In these Practice Directions, unless the context otherwise requires:

• (a) any reference to a repealed provision of any written law is a reference to that provision as in force immediately before the date the provision is repealed;
• (b) any reference to “Rules of Court 2021” is a reference to the Rules of Court 2021 (G.N. No. S 914/2021) as in force on or after 1 April 2022; and
• (c) where any legislation is cited in these Practice Directions, the citation is to be read as referring to the version of that legislation currently in force.

4. Commencement

These Practice Directions come into operation on 1 April 2022.

5. Updating

Amendments to these Practice Directions will be done on a paragraph-for-paragraph basis. These Practice Directions will be automatically updated with the new amended paragraphs. A list of amendments made will also be found on the Singapore Courts website at https://www.judiciary.gov.sg.

6. Applicability of Practice Directions

Practice Directions to apply to civil proceedings

(1) These Practice Directions apply to civil proceedings only, unless otherwise stated.

Proceedings using the Electronic Filing Service

(2) For proceedings using the Electronic Filing Service, Part 5 of these Practice Directions does not apply.

7. Calculation of time

Unless otherwise stated, the provisions in the Rules of Court 2021 relating to the calculation of time apply to the calculation of time in these Practice Directions.

8. Forms

The forms specified by number in the Rules of Court 2021 are set out in Appendix A of these Practice Directions. The forms specified by number in these Practice Directions are set out in Appendix B of these Practice Directions. The forms are to be used where applicable, with such variations as the circumstances of the case may require.

9. Registrar’s Circulars

Registrar’s Circulars can be found at the Singapore Courts website at https://www.judiciary.gov.sg