Re Rajagopal Muralitharan: Application for Admission to the Bar and Abridgement of Time

Mr. Rajagopal Muralitharan applied to the General Division of the High Court of Singapore for admission as an advocate and solicitor. His application faced procedural issues, including the expiration of the originating summons and a late filing of the affidavit. The Attorney-General objected to the abridgement of time. Choo Han Teck J allowed the summons for the reinstatement of the originating summons and the abridgement of time, enabling Mr. Muralitharan's admission.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court

1.2 Outcome

Originating summons reinstated and abridgement of time allowed.

1.3 Case Type

Legal Profession

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Application for admission to the bar. The court allowed the application for reinstatement of the originating summons and abridgement of time.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Attorney-GeneralRespondentGovernment AgencyObjection OverruledLost
Clement Lim of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Rajagopal MuralitharanApplicantIndividualApplication AllowedWon

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Clement LimAttorney-General’s Chambers

4. Facts

  1. The applicant failed the Part B examinations in 2021.
  2. The applicant filed HC/AAS 33/2022 for admission to the Bar on 11 February 2022.
  3. The applicant passed the Part B examinations in 2022.
  4. The applicant filed his affidavit in support of his application for admission on 19 April 2023.
  5. The deadline for the Monthly May Call was 18 April 2023.
  6. The applicant's originating summons expired on 11 February 2023.
  7. The applicant filed HC/SUM 1345/2023 for reinstatement of the originating summons.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Re Rajagopal Muralitharan, Admission of Advocates and Solicitors No 33 of 2022(Summonses Nos 1182, 1187 and 1345 of 2023), [2023] SGHC 133

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Applicant sat for Part B examinations
Applicant filed HC/AAS 33/2022 for admission to the Bar
Applicant retook Part B examination
Applicant filed affidavit in support of application for admission
Deadline for Monthly May Call
Applicant filed HC/SUM 1182/2023 for abridgement of time
Applicant informed originating summons had expired
Law Society advised applicant to seek reinstatement of originating summons
Applicant filed HC/SUM 1345/2023
Hearing before Choo Han Teck J
Decision made by Choo Han Teck J

7. Legal Issues

  1. Reinstatement of Originating Summons
    • Outcome: The court exercised its discretion to allow the originating summons to be reinstated.
    • Category: Procedural
  2. Abridgement of Time
    • Outcome: The court allowed the summons for abridgement of time, despite the Attorney-General's objection.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Admission to the Bar
  2. Reinstatement of Originating Summons
  3. Abridgement of Time

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Admission to the Bar

11. Industries

  • Legal Services

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 Rule 25
Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed) O 21 r 2(8)
Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed) O 21 r 2(6)
Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed) O 21 r 2(6B)

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Legal Profession Act 1966 Section 12Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Originating Summons
  • Affidavit of Admission
  • Abridgement of Time
  • Reinstatement
  • Monthly Call
  • Part B Examinations

15.2 Keywords

  • Admission to the Bar
  • Legal Profession
  • Singapore
  • Advocate and Solicitor
  • Originating Summons
  • Abridgement of Time

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Admission to the Bar95
Legal Profession Act90
Reinstatement of Originating Summons80
Abridgement of Time70
Civil Practice50

16. Subjects

  • Legal Profession
  • Civil Procedure