Outcomes of Second-hand Cigarette Smoke-related Claims Filed with Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal in Past Three Years

2 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Law with regard to second-hand cigarette smoke-related claims being filed in the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal in the past three years, (a) what has been the typical waiting time from the filing of a claim to the conclusion of the hearing; and (b) what are the outcomes of these claims and how many have been resolved.

Mr K Shanmugam: From 2018 to 2020, 38 claims relating to excessive smoke, were filed with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT). Excessive smoke can be caused by activities, for example, like cigarette smoking.

Of these, 25 claims were resolved without a trial, or the CDRT process. Nine cases were resolved with a consent order and 16 cases were withdrawn or discontinued.

Of the remaining 13 claims: (a) three were dismissed or struck off; (b) an adjudicated order or default order was made for four cases. These are cases where the CDRT made an order after hearing the facts of the case, or granted an order in the absence of the respondent. An example of an outcome, is where respondents were ordered not to smoke along the common corridor or stairwell, and were also required to ensure that occupants of their flat abide by the same order; (c) six cases are pending.

Most of the cases at the CDRT are generally concluded within six months of the filing of a claim. This typically included time taken to get parties to come to an amicable resolution.