Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N9
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 17(5)
- Key Instrument: G.N. No. S 429/1997
- Enacting / Operative Effect: Appoints a commencement date for a revised edition of subsidiary legislation
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Timeline / Versions:
- 26 Sep 1997: SL 429/1997 (notice issued)
- 15 Jun 1998: 1998 Revised Edition (15th June 1998)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is not a substantive regulatory statute creating new rights or obligations. Instead, it is a procedural notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act to bring into force a revised edition of subsidiary legislation.
In plain language, the notice tells lawyers and the public that the 1997 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation—made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act—has been appointed to come into force on a specified date. The revised edition is produced by the Law Revision Commissioners and is intended to consolidate and incorporate amendments up to a stated cut-off date.
The notice therefore plays an important role in legal practice: it clarifies which version of the subsidiary legislation is legally operative from the appointed date, ensuring that courts, practitioners, and agencies apply the correct consolidated text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory authority under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notice is expressly made “pursuant to section 17(5)” of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Section 17(5) provides the mechanism by which the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised editions of laws (often in loose-leaf form) and then have those revised editions brought into force by a further notification.
Practically, this means the notice is the bridge between (a) the publication of a revised edition and (b) its legal effect as the operative consolidated text.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a specified date
The enacting recital states that the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the 1997 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, incorporating “all amendments up to 1st July 1997.”
This is a critical detail for practitioners. It signals that the revised edition is not merely a reprint; it is a consolidation that captures amendments made up to the cut-off date. When advising clients or preparing submissions, counsel must ensure that the relevant procedural rules (or other subsidiary provisions) are read in the consolidated form that reflects amendments up to that date.
3. Appointment of the commencement date
The operative effect of the notice is contained in the final paragraph: the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 26th September 1997 as the date the 1997 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force.
From a legal research perspective, this is the key “date anchor.” It determines when the revised edition becomes the authoritative text for the subsidiary legislation it covers. If a dispute arises about the content of the rules during a period straddling the notice date, counsel should consider whether the revised edition was already in force at the relevant time.
4. Identification of the instrument and its relationship to the revised edition
The notice is identified as G.N. No. S 429/1997 and is dated 26th September 1997. The document also references the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275, section 17(5)) and indicates that the revised edition is the 1997 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act.
Although the extract provided is short, the metadata and legislative history indicate that the revised edition later appears as the 1998 Revised Edition (15th June 1998). For practitioners, this underscores that revised editions may be updated or republished, and the correct version must be selected using the legislation timeline.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a notice rather than a multi-part Act. It contains:
(a) a heading identifying it as a “Notice under Section 17(5)”;
(b) a status and versioning framework (including “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and a timeline);
(c) an enacting formula and legislative history section; and
(d) an operative recital that appoints a commencement date for the revised edition.
In other words, the “substance” is the commencement appointment and the confirmation that the revised edition incorporates amendments up to a specified cut-off date. There are no substantive “sections” setting out regulatory requirements within this notice itself.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice applies indirectly to everyone who must rely on the subsidiary legislation made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. That includes courts, legal practitioners, litigants, and government agencies that administer or enforce the relevant procedural rules.
Because the notice is about the effective date of a revised edition, its practical “applicability” is tied to the period when the revised edition is in force. It does not create obligations by itself; rather, it determines the authoritative consolidated text that governs the relevant subject matter covered by the subsidiary legislation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this notice is brief, it is important for legal accuracy and litigation strategy. In Singapore practice, the correct application of procedural rules and subsidiary legislation can be decisive. A revised edition may incorporate amendments that affect filing requirements, court processes, or other procedural mechanisms under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act.
For counsel, the notice provides a clear basis to argue what the law was at a given time. When drafting submissions or preparing affidavits, practitioners often need to confirm whether a particular rule was in force in its amended form. The notice’s appointment of 26 September 1997 helps establish the point at which the consolidated 1997 revised edition became operative.
Additionally, the notice highlights the need to use the legislation timeline and version controls. The extract indicates that the “current version” is as at 27 Mar 2026, but the relevant instrument and revised edition dates are in 1997 and 1998. A practitioner must therefore ensure that the correct historical version is consulted when dealing with events that occurred before later revisions.
Finally, this notice illustrates the broader legislative infrastructure in Singapore: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act enables systematic consolidation of laws, while notices under section 17(5) ensure that revised editions have a clear and publicly notified commencement date. This supports legal certainty and reduces ambiguity about which text governs.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 17(5)
- Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322)
- Judicature Act (as referenced in the notice’s description of the subsidiary legislation’s authorising statute)
- Timeline (legislation timeline tool used to confirm the correct version as at a relevant date)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Section 17 (5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.