A district court on Nov. 11, 2014, found the Workers' Party-run town council guilty of breaking the law when it held a Chinese New Year event from Jan. 9 to Jan. 30 in Hougang Central without a permit.

The Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council required a permit for "any temporary fair, stage show or other such function or activity" under Section 35 of the Environmental Public Health Act.

The event at the beginning of this year went ahead even though it was not granted a letter of approval from the area's Citizens Consultative Committee, chaired by a People's Action Party grassroots leader, because AHPETC deemed this requirement "unreasonable".

The AHPETC lawyers had argued that a permit was not needed as the event was a "community event" or "mini-fair" held within a common space that was managed by the town council.

But National Environment Agency (NEA) prosecutors had argued that the law does not give town councils "unfettered powers" to manage estates.

Town councils still have to adhere to laws, the prosecution said during the course of the hearings. Town councils still had to apply for permits for public entertainment or assemblies held in common areas.

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