Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Sections 10(6) and 17(6) for the Issue of Revised Loose-leaf Pages of Subsidiary Legislation Issue 1/97
- Act Code: RELA1983-N11
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (Notice)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), Sections 10(6) and 17(6)
- Enacting Instrument: G.N. No. S 563/1997
- Revised Edition / Publication: Revised Edition 1998 (15th June 1998)
- Commencement (effective date stated): 1st January 1998
- Legislative History (as shown): 15 Jun 1998 (1998 RevEd); 01 Jan 1998 (effective date for the revised loose-leaf pages)
- Instrument Focus: Issue of revised loose-leaf pages for the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5), incorporating amendments up to 31st December 1997
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice” is not a substantive law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is an administrative/legal publication mechanism used in Singapore to keep the body of subsidiary legislation accurate and up to date. In practical terms, it tells lawyers and the public when a revised set of loose-leaf pages—prepared by the Law Revision Commissioners—becomes legally effective.
The Notice is issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That Act provides a statutory framework for producing revised editions of laws and for issuing updated “loose-leaf pages” that incorporate amendments made up to a specified cut-off date. Here, the Notice concerns Subsidiary Legislation Issue 1/97 and specifically the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5).
In plain language: the Law Revision Commissioners have compiled the latest amendments to the Rules of Court up to 31 December 1997, and this Notice formally appoints 1 January 1998 as the date those revised pages come into force. For practitioners, the key value is certainty—knowing which version of the Rules of Court is authoritative from a particular date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory basis for issuing revised loose-leaf pages. The Notice is grounded in Sections 10(6) and 17(6) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Those provisions empower the Law Revision Commissioners to prepare and publish revised loose-leaf pages that incorporate amendments to subsidiary legislation. The Notice’s role is to convert that publication into a legally effective update by specifying the commencement date for the revised pages.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a specified cut-off date. The Notice states that, “pursuant to sections 10(6) and 17(6) … the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared and published the loose-leaf pages set out in the Schedule incorporating all amendments up to 31st December 1997 made to the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5).” This is crucial for legal practice: it confirms that the revised pages are not merely reprints, but compilations that reflect the law as amended through the cut-off date.
3. Appointment of the effective date for the revised pages. The operative effect of the Notice is contained in the final paragraph: the Commissioners have appointed 1st January 1998 as the date the revised loose-leaf pages of the Rules of Court in this Issue shall come into force. From that date, the revised loose-leaf pages are the authoritative reference for the Rules of Court as compiled in the Issue.
4. “For general information” and legal certainty. The Notice is framed as a public notification (“it is hereby notified for general information”). While this language may appear modest, the legal consequence is significant: it provides an official anchor for determining which text of the Rules of Court applies at a given time. In litigation, procedural rules can be time-sensitive; therefore, knowing the effective version of the Rules is often essential for accurate submissions, compliance, and advice.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the Notice is concise and follows the typical format of Singapore legislative notices that operate as publication/commencement instruments. The key elements visible in the extract are:
(a) Enacting formula — identifies the legal basis and the authority under which the Notice is made.
(b) The Schedule — indicates that the revised loose-leaf pages are “set out in the Schedule.” In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not reproduced, but the Notice clearly identifies the subject matter as the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5) under “Subsidiary Legislation Issue 1/97.”
(c) Legislative history / status information — the document shows that it is a current version as at 27 March 2026, with a timeline indicating the Revised Edition 1998 (15 June 1998) and the effective date (1 January 1998). This helps practitioners locate the correct version and understand the publication timeline.
(d) Operative paragraph — the Notice’s practical “do” statement: appointing the commencement date for the revised loose-leaf pages.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notice applies broadly to anyone who relies on the Rules of Court as part of Singapore’s legal system—primarily legal practitioners, court officers, litigants, and researchers. Although the Notice is addressed to the public “for general information,” its effect is to determine which version of the Rules of Court is legally in force from the appointed date.
More specifically, the Notice matters to practitioners because it affects procedural compliance. The Rules of Court govern civil and related court procedures (for example, filing requirements, case management steps, and procedural timelines). When the Rules are revised through loose-leaf updates, counsel must ensure that their filings and submissions reflect the operative text as at the relevant date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this Notice is administrative in nature, it is important because it supports the integrity and usability of Singapore’s legal corpus. The Rules of Court are frequently amended, and without an official mechanism to compile amendments into a consolidated text, practitioners would face uncertainty about which provisions apply. This Notice resolves that uncertainty by formally bringing the revised loose-leaf pages into force on a specified date.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the practical impact is that counsel can confidently cite the Rules of Court as they stand in the revised compilation effective from 1 January 1998. This reduces the risk of relying on outdated wording, misquoting provisions, or overlooking amendments that may have changed procedural obligations.
Finally, the Notice illustrates a broader governance principle in Singapore’s law revision system: the Law Revision Commissioners’ work is not merely editorial. By operating under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Commissioners’ compiled loose-leaf pages acquire legal force through an official notification. For practitioners, this means that “version control” in legislation is not left to informal practice; it is anchored in statutory authority and published commencement dates.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular Sections 10(6) and 17(6)
- Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5) — the subsidiary legislation updated through this Issue of revised loose-leaf pages
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 Issue 1/97 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.