Statute Details
- Title: Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2013
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Act Code: CPC2010-S364-2013
- Authorising Act: Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), in particular section 428 (power to make regulations)
- Commencement: 1 July 2013
- Status: Current version (as at 27 Mar 2026)
- Enacting Formula: Made by the Minister for Law pursuant to section 428 of the Criminal Procedure Code
- Key Provisions:
- Section 1: Citation and commencement
- Section 2: Prescribed fees for applications for copies of records/grounds of decision and other parts of the record
- Section 3: Waiver, remission or refund of fees by the relevant Registrar
- Section 4: Revocation of the 2010 Regulations
- Amendments Noted in Timeline:
- Amended by S 147/2014 (effective 07 Mar 2014)
- Amended by S 1047/2020 (effective 02 Jan 2021)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2013 (“the Regulations”) is a Singapore subsidiary law that sets out the fees payable when parties apply for copies of court records in criminal matters. In practical terms, it governs how much an applicant must pay to obtain documents such as the record of proceedings, grounds of decision, and other parts of the record (including judgments, sentences, and depositions).
These Regulations sit alongside the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) (“the Code”). The Code provides the procedural framework for criminal appeals and related applications. However, the Code does not itself specify the detailed fee amounts. The Regulations fill that gap by prescribing fixed charges and per-page charges, and by establishing minimum fees to ensure administrative costs are covered.
Beyond setting fees, the Regulations also provide a discretionary mechanism for waiver, remission, or refund of fees by the relevant court Registrar. This is important for access to justice: even where a fee is prescribed, the Registrar may reduce or eliminate the fee where appropriate.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) is straightforward. It confirms that the Regulations may be cited as the Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2013 and that they came into operation on 1 July 2013. For practitioners, this matters when determining which fee schedule applies to applications made before and after commencement.
Section 2 (Prescribed fees) is the core of the Regulations. It contains two main fee regimes, each linked to specific provisions in the Code.
First: Section 2(1) addresses applications for copies of the record of proceedings and the grounds of decision for the purpose of section 377(6) of the Code. This is typically connected to the appellate process—particularly where a notice of appeal is lodged and the appellant seeks the relevant materials to support the appeal.
The fee depends on the court whose decision is being appealed:
- Magistrate’s Court or District Court: If the notice of appeal is lodged in relation to a judgment, sentence, or order of the Magistrate’s Court or District Court, the prescribed fee is $50 for the application. If an applicant seeks an additional copy, the fee is $0.50 per page, subject to a minimum fee of $10 for each copy of the record of proceedings or grounds of decision.
- General Division of the High Court: If the notice of appeal is lodged in relation to a judgment, sentence, or order of the General Division of the High Court, the prescribed fee is $0.50 per page for a copy of the record of proceedings and grounds of decision, subject to a minimum fee of $10.
Second: Section 2(2) addresses applications for copies of any judgment, sentence, order, deposition or other part of the record of proceedings in a criminal case or matter, for the purpose of section 426(1) of the Code. This provision is broader than section 2(1) because it covers a wider range of document types.
Under Section 2(2), the prescribed fee is calculated as follows:
- $5 payable at the time of the application for each type of document requested; and
- $0.50 per page for the copies requested.
In addition, there is a total minimum fee of $15 for each type of document requested. This minimum fee structure is significant for practitioners because it affects budgeting and fee estimates, especially where the requested document type is short (e.g., a brief order or a limited deposition extract).
Section 3 (Waiver, remission or refund of fees) provides an important safety valve. It states that the Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Registrar of the State Courts (as the case may be) may, as he thinks fit, waive, remit, or refund any fee paid or payable under the Regulations, wholly or in part.
For lawyers, this discretion is practically relevant in cases involving indigent applicants, impecuniosity, or other circumstances where strict payment would impede access to records. While the Regulations do not specify criteria, the existence of this power means practitioners can (where appropriate) make submissions or provide supporting information to seek relief from the prescribed fees.
Section 4 (Revocation) revokes the earlier Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2010 (G.N. No. S 799/2010). This ensures there is a single current fee schedule and avoids conflicts between overlapping subsidiary instruments.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are compact and structured into four sections only:
- Section 1: Citation and commencement (when the Regulations start to apply).
- Section 2: Prescribed fees (the substantive fee schedule, split into two subsections reflecting different Code purposes).
- Section 3: Waiver, remission or refund (discretionary relief by the relevant Registrar).
- Section 4: Revocation (repeal of the 2010 Regulations).
There are no schedules in the extract provided; the fee amounts are embedded directly in the text of Section 2.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to applications for copies of criminal court records made under the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code—specifically those connected to section 377(6) and section 426(1). In practice, this typically includes appellants, respondents, or other parties entitled to request records for the purposes of criminal proceedings and appeals.
Jurisdictionally, the fee regime is administered by the Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Registrar of the State Courts, depending on the court context. The fee amounts in Section 2 are keyed to the court whose decision or record is involved (Magistrate’s Court/District Court versus the General Division of the High Court), and the waiver/remission power in Section 3 is exercised by the relevant Registrar “as the case may be.”
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Regulations are brief, they are operationally significant for criminal practitioners. Requests for records—especially the record of proceedings and grounds of decision—are often time-sensitive and central to preparing submissions, drafting appeals, and assessing prospects of success. The prescribed fees therefore directly affect the practical ability to obtain the materials needed for litigation.
From a cost-management perspective, Section 2 provides a clear formula. Lawyers can estimate costs by identifying (i) which court decision is being appealed, (ii) the number of pages likely required, and (iii) whether the request falls under the “record and grounds of decision” regime (Section 2(1)) or the broader “judgment/sentence/order/deposition/other part” regime (Section 2(2)). The minimum fee thresholds ($10 and $15) are particularly important for accurate budgeting.
Finally, Section 3’s waiver/remission/refund discretion supports fairness and access to justice. In appropriate cases, practitioners can seek relief from fees, which may be crucial for defendants who need records to pursue or respond to appeals but cannot afford the prescribed charges. Even though the Regulations do not mandate waiver, the existence of the power means that fee barriers are not absolute.
Related Legislation
- Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) — in particular:
- Section 377(6) (linked to applications for copies of record of proceedings and grounds of decision)
- Section 426(1) (linked to applications for copies of judgments, sentences, orders, depositions and other parts of the record)
- Section 428 (power to make regulations)
- Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2010 (G.N. No. S 799/2010) — revoked by Section 4
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Criminal Procedure Code (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.