Singapore Act 1966

2Cesser of jurisdiction of Singapore courts under Colonial and Other Territories (Divorce Jurisdiction) Acts 1926 to 1950.

(1)In their operation by virtue of the foregoing section, the Colonial and Other Territories (Divorce Jurisdiction) Acts 1926 to 1950 shall not have effect so as to enable a court having jurisdiction under the law of Singapore to make a decree for the dissolution of a marriage, or, as incidental thereto, to make an order as to any matter, unless proceedings for the decree were instituted before the passing of this Act.

(2)Except as provided by the foregoing subsection, and subject to any provision to the contrary having effect as part of the law of Singapore, all courts having jurisdiction under the law of Singapore shall, after the coming into force of this section, be treated, for the purpose of such law as is mentioned in subsection (3) of the foregoing section, as having the same jurisdiction under the said Acts as they would have had if this Act had not been passed.

(3)The rules referred to in section 1(4) of the [1926 c. 40.] Indian and Colonial Divorce Jurisdiction Act 1926 (which requires proceedings under that Act to be conducted in accordance with rules made by the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor) may, in the application of that Act to Singapore by virtue of the foregoing provisions of this Act, instead of being so made, be made by such authority as may be determined by the law of Singapore, and so much of the said section 1(4) and of any rules in force thereunder so made by the Secretary of State as requires the approval of the Lord Chancellor to the nomination for any purpose of any judges of any such court shall cease to have effect.

(4)The references in subsection (1) above to proceedings for the dissolution of a marriage include references to proceedings for such a decree of presumption of death and dissolution of marriage as is authorised by section 14 of the [1965 c. 72.] Matrimonial Causes Act 1965.