Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Sections 10(6) and 17(6) for the Issue of Revised Loose-leaf Pages of Subsidiary Legislation
- Act Code: RELA1983-N27
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (sl)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), sections 10(6) and 17(6)
- Legislative Instrument Number: N 27
- Gazette / Notification Reference: G.N. No. S 352/2001
- Revised Edition: Revised Edition 2002 (31 January 2002)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Subject Matter: Appointment of the commencement date for revised loose-leaf pages of the Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5)
- Schedule: “THE SCHEDULE” (instrument text indicates the revised loose-leaf pages are set out in the Schedule)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it does not create new substantive legal rules. Instead, it performs an administrative-but-important function: it confirms when revised loose-leaf pages of a body of subsidiary legislation—here, the Rules of Court—are to come into force.
The notice is grounded in sections 10(6) and 17(6) of Cap. 275. Those provisions empower the Law Revision Commissioners to prepare revised loose-leaf pages that incorporate amendments, and then to set a date on which those revised pages take effect. The notice therefore serves as the bridge between (i) the publication of updated loose-leaf pages and (ii) the legal moment when the updated text becomes the operative version.
Although the instrument is short, it is highly relevant to practitioners because it affects which version of the Rules of Court is legally authoritative at a given time. For litigation strategy, compliance, and procedural timelines, knowing the effective date of revisions can be critical—particularly where amendments alter practice directions, procedural steps, or filing requirements.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Incorporation of amendments into revised loose-leaf pages. The notice states that, pursuant to sections 10(6) and 17(6) of Cap. 275, the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared and published the loose-leaf pages set out in the Schedule. The instrument further specifies that these pages incorporate all amendments up to 30 June 2001 made to the relevant subsidiary legislation—namely the Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5).
This matters because it clarifies the coverage of the revision: practitioners should treat the revised loose-leaf pages as a consolidated version reflecting amendments made up to the stated cut-off date. In other words, the revised pages are intended to be a “current” consolidated text for the specified period, reducing the need to cross-reference multiple amendment instruments.
2. Appointment of the date the revised loose-leaf pages come into force. The operative effect of the notice is contained in the concluding paragraph: the Commissioners have appointed 31 July 2001 as the date when the revised loose-leaf pages of the Rules of Court in this issue shall come into force.
From a legal practitioner’s perspective, this is the central provision. It determines the effective date of the revised procedural rules. If an amendment affects procedural steps (for example, time limits, filing formats, or court processes), the effective date will determine whether the amended rule applies to a particular case, depending on the nature of the amendment and any transitional provisions in the underlying amending instruments.
3. “For general information” and the function of the notice. The notice is framed “for general information.” This language signals that the instrument is not a directive to a particular party, but a public confirmation of the legal commencement date of revised consolidated subsidiary legislation.
In practice, such notices are often used to ensure that the legal community—lawyers, courts, and the public—can reliably identify the operative text. Even where the substantive amendments were already made through earlier instruments, the revised loose-leaf pages provide an authoritative consolidated version, and the notice confirms when that consolidated version becomes effective.
4. Relationship to the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. While the notice itself is brief, it is legally significant because it is an exercise of statutory authority under Cap. 275. The notice’s validity and effect depend on the statutory mechanism for revision and commencement. Practitioners should therefore treat the notice as part of the broader legislative framework governing how Singapore’s laws are consolidated and updated.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a notice with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The Schedule is referenced as containing the loose-leaf pages prepared and published by the Law Revision Commissioners. The instrument also includes a “Legislative History” section and a “Timeline” indicating the revised edition context.
From a usability standpoint, the most important elements are:
- Enacting formula / preamble: explains the statutory basis (sections 10(6) and 17(6) of Cap. 275) and the fact that revised loose-leaf pages have been prepared and published.
- Operative appointment: specifies the commencement date (31 July 2001) for the revised loose-leaf pages of the Rules of Court.
- Schedule reference: indicates that the revised pages are set out in the Schedule (i.e., the consolidated text is provided as part of the instrument’s publication package).
Because the instrument is administrative in nature, it does not contain detailed substantive rules. Instead, it functions as a publication and commencement notice within the legal revision process.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice applies to the legal system and, indirectly, to all persons and entities affected by the Rules of Court. The Rules of Court govern civil and related court procedures, so the effective date of revised loose-leaf pages affects litigants, counsel, court officers, and the judiciary.
However, the notice itself is not addressed to a specific class of persons. It is a public legal instrument that determines when a revised consolidated text becomes operative. As such, its practical applicability is best understood through the Rules of Court it updates: once the revised loose-leaf pages come into force, the updated procedural provisions apply in accordance with their terms and any applicable transitional arrangements.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this notice is not a “substantive amendment” instrument, it is important because it affects procedural certainty. Litigation depends on knowing the correct procedural rules at the relevant time. By appointing a specific commencement date for revised loose-leaf pages, the notice helps eliminate ambiguity about which version of the Rules of Court should be treated as authoritative.
For practitioners, the effective date can be decisive in several scenarios: determining compliance with filing requirements, assessing whether a procedural step was taken under the correct rule, and evaluating arguments about the applicability of amendments to ongoing proceedings. Even where the underlying amendments were made earlier, the consolidated revised pages provide the “clean” text that lawyers will typically rely on when drafting pleadings, preparing affidavits, or advising clients.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notice supports the integrity of legal publication. The Law Revision Commissioners’ role is to incorporate amendments into consolidated form. The notice ensures that the legal community can trust that the consolidated version is not merely published, but also effective from the appointed date. This reduces the risk of inadvertent reliance on outdated provisions.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — sections 10(6) and 17(6) (authorising provisions for revised loose-leaf pages and commencement notices)
- Rules of Court (Cap. 322, R 5) — the subsidiary legislation whose revised loose-leaf pages are brought into force by this notice
- G.N. No. S 352/2001 — the gazetted notification reference for this notice
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (2002 RevEd) — the revised edition context in which the notice appears
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Sections 10 (6) and 17 (6) for the Issue of Revised Loose-leaf Pages of Subsidiary Legislation for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.