In 2006, the Supreme Court received a total of 15,367 new civil and criminal matters. In the same period, a total of 15,018 matters were disposed of. The clearance rate2 for all civil and criminal matters for 2006 was 98%.
The breakdown of the caseload and disposal of the civil and criminal proceedings for 2006 are shown in the following charts. The resultant clearance rates are reflected accordingly.
| 1 |
The reference to 2006 in this chapter means the period 1 November 2005 to 31 October 2006 and similarly for reference to 2005. |
| 2 |
Percentage may exceed 100% when the disposal figure is greater than the filing figure. Disposal figures may include previous year’s caseload disposed of in current year. |
 back to top
The volume of caseload in 2006 was 8% lower than that for 2005. The caseload of all types of civil matters registered a decline. Caseload for criminal matters, on the other hand, registered an increase of 63% when compared to 2005. This was largely attributable to a higher volume of Magistrate’s Appeals received in 2006.
The clearance rate for all civil and criminal matters in 2006 was 98%, a slight increase over 2005’s clearance rate of 96%.
A comparison of caseload and disposal between 2005 and 2006 is illustrated in the charts that follow.
back to top
Targets for waiting periods in various court processes have been set as part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to the provision of quality public service. These targets are reviewed annually to ensure that they are realistic and match international benchmarks. The Supreme Court endeavours to achieve 90% compliance of all targets set. For the past five years, the targets set have all been consistently achieved.
The average timelines for waiting periods achieved are set out in the tables that follow for the corresponding years of 2005 and 2006. In particular, trial dates for civil cases were given within 3 weeks of the date of set down and trial dates for criminal cases were given within 4 weeks of the date of preliminary inquiry.
back to top
Type
of Proceedings
|
Target
set by Department
|
Target
achieved3
|
2005
|
2006 |
Trials
in Suits
|
8
weeks from date of set down to trial
|
3 weeks
|
2.3 weeks |
| Originating Summonses
(OS) |
| (i) |
Inter-partes4 |
| (ii) |
Ex-parte |
| (iii) |
Arbitration proceedings under Order
69 rule 6 of the Rules of Court (ROC) |
|
| |
| 6 weeks from date of filing of the
OS |
| 3 weeks from date of filing of the
OS |
| 13 weeks from date of filing of the
OS (statutory) minimum period of 3 months) |
|
|
| |
| 4.5 weeks |
| 1.4 weeks |
| 13 weeks |
|
Bankruptcy
Originating Summonses5
|
6
weeks from date of filing of the OS
|
5.4 weeks |
5.4 weeks |
Company
Winding-Up Originating Summonses
|
4
weeks from date of filing of the OS
|
3.6 weeks |
3.5 weeks |
Probate
Originating Summonses and Summonses6
|
4
weeks from date of filing of the OS/SUM
|
1.9 weeks |
1.9 weeks |
| Summonses (SUM) |
| (i) |
Summonses before Judge & Registrar
other than applications for summary judgment pursuant to Order 14 of
the ROC |
| (ii) |
Applications for summary judgment pursuant
to Order 14 of the ROC |
|
| |
| 3 weeks from date of filing of the SUM |
| 5 weeks from date of filing of the application
(statutory minimum period) |
|
| |
Before Judge
1.7 weeks
Before Registrar
1.0 weeks |
| 4.8 weeks |
|
| |
Before Judge
1.3 weeks
Before Registrar
1.1 weeks |
| 4.9 weeks |
|
| Bankruptcy
Applications (summonses)7 |
4 weeks from
date of filing of the application (statutory minimum period) |
4 weeks |
3.9 weeks |
| 3 |
“Target achieved” refers to the average timelines attained for the period and excludes court vacations. |
| 4 |
New performance indicator introduced with effect from January 2006. |
| 5 |
Refers to applications for bankruptcy order (known as bankruptcy petitions prior to April 2006) only. |
| 6 |
Known as Probate Petition prior to January 2006. |
| 7 |
Refers to applications for discharge only. |
back to top
Type
of Proceedings
|
Target
set by Department
|
Target
achieved3
|
2005
|
2006 |
Trials
of Proceedings
|
4 weeks
from date of preliminary inquiry
|
|
|
back to top
Type
of Proceedings
|
Target
set by Department
|
Target achieved
|
2005
|
2006 |
| Civil Appeals |
| (i) |
Civil appeals heard before 2 Judges |
| (ii) |
Civil appeals heard before 3 Judges |
|
| |
| Ready to be heard in 12 weeks from date
of notification to collect record of proceedings (ROP) |
| Ready to be heard in 16 weeks from date
of notification to collect ROP |
|
|
|
Registrar’s
Appeals
(from the High Court) |
| |
|
| 3 weeks from date of filing of appeal |
| 4 weeks from date of filing of appeal
(against assessment of damages) |
|
|
|
| Appeals in Civil
matters from the Subordinate Courts |
4 weeks from receipt of
ROP |
3.6 weeks |
3.0 weeks |
back to top
Type
of Proceedings
|
Target
set by Department
|
Target
achieved
|
2005
|
2006 |
Criminal
Appeals
|
6 weeks
from service of ROP
|
|
|
| Appeals in Criminal
matters from the Subordinate Courts |
8 weeks from service of
ROP |
|
|
back to top
As part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to the timeliness of justice, the Supreme Court aims to dispose of 85% of the cases within 18 months from the time of filing.
For civil cases filed during the period May 2004 to April 20058, 96% were disposed of within 18 months. The breakdown by the types of cases is shown in the diagram below.
8 Only cases filed in April 2005 and earlier have completed the life cycle of 18 months by October 2006.
In respect of writs (other than admiralty writs), there were 612 active matters pending disposal as at 31 October 2006. The overall distribution of all active writs based on the calendar year filed is shown in the following diagram.
back to top
Next
Section: Quality of Justice
|
